13th May 2016

Mia: The only thing Mia's been interested in today is food. She should know better than that by now!
College: So today was deadline day at college... Until she changed it to next week! I know why she did it but when you've cancelled plans to meet your deadline, it's a bit of a piss-take to find its suddenly moved! Anyway, I finished all my work and handed it in regardless. I just have to prepare my end of year show now.
Life: this evening I went into Liverpool for LightNight. Instead of like last year when we wandered around aimlessly and it doing my head in, this year I decamped at Central Library. The first thing I saw was a lecture on Shakespeare which made me want to go and read more of his stuff! The next thing was a presentation on LGBT and BAME history, and the third thing I saw at the library was a presentation on anime. Unfortunately, they'd arrived without a microphone so told those of us who couldn't hear to move forward. I did just that but still couldn't hear so walked out annoyed. So then I went across to St George's Hall for a play by Grin LGBTQI theatre company called I Kissed A Boy And I Liked It which was probably my favourite thing of the evening. :)
One Thing: I'm choosing LightNight tonight. It was yet another example of how fabulous Liverpool is. I really enjoyed it. :)

12th May 2016

Mia: lovely to be greeted by Mia jumping over the fence to welcome me home this morning. I missed her terribly and clearly she missed me too. The neighbour who Id asked to look after her whilst I was away popped around this evening. She said Mia had been off her food - most unlike her! Poor darling! :( xx
Life: it was straight to bed this morning and then, when I woke up, I had a lazy breakfast until noon, when I had lunch. This afternoon I went to WHISC in Liverpool to meet up with Kirsteen and discuss the voluntary job I'm gonna start next week. Then I went and met Clare and we wandered over to The Bluecoat for a mutual writing class. After that, as I'd been well under budget in Berlin, I decided to extend my holiday by eating out at Bakchich where I had a veggie burger. I then stopped off at Morrisons on the way home to get some milk and cookies. The rest of the evening has been spent sorting out my holiday photos.
One Thing: lots of good stuff today: being glad to be alive, small victories, the weather - but I'm choosing being home with Mia. She is such a sweetheart and I love her dearly!

8th May 2016

Mia: Mia was out enjoying the sunshine most of the day. However, she was at home when the neighbour who's looking after her came around to call and didn't appreciate it when the neighbour picked her up. Mia is too much of an independent spirit to be manhandled like that!
Life: had a lazy start to the day and didn't have breakfast until 9:30am. Had a nap in the afternoon. Enjoying socialising with Nikki and Patricia this evening. :)
College: spent most of the day cracking on with drawing sketchbook for college. I think I'm done but I guess I'll find out for sure next week.
One Thing: the one thing I'm choosing today is socialising with Nikki and Patricia. I'm so lucky to have such quality friends in my life! :)

7th May 2016

Mia: Mia was playing 'stunt kitty' just now. She tried to jump from pouffe to my lap but landed short and then there was a mad scramble to get on my lap and not fall. I helped her but she looked at me with complete disgust afterwards and jumped straight back on to the pouffe again! :(
Life: today I was back teaching again. This time at Big Love Sista. They seemed to really enjoy it and I did too. :) The work was amazing too! :) Then I came home for tea before heading back into Liverpool again for an evening of poetry. I'd heard of neither act before but the promise of "dub poetry" was enough to get me to part with £10. As it turned out "dub poetry" wasn't at all musical and was in fact poetry in the "Jamaican tongue". However, the support act - Hollie McNish - was excellent! So I bought her book and got it signed too! :)
One Thing: the one thing I'm choosing today is things going so well at BLS. :)

6th May 2016

Mia: some days I swear all Mia wants from me is food! The only times I've seen her today is when she's hungry! But if she can wait until after 7am in future, so much the better!
College: my tutor saw me first thing to tell me my drawing sketchbook wasn't up to scratch and needed more in it! So my plans for a relaxed weekend went up in smoke within ten minutes of being in college! :( I then worked on finishing my FMP sketchbook and came home at 3:30pm because I wanted to make a start on my drawing sketchbook and my inks are at home. So, when I got home, I sprayed up my sketchbook in preparation.
Life: I went to the cinema this evening to watch the latest Captain America film. It was very enjoyable and made me want to watch the first two again. After the cinema I packed my rucksack for Berlin.
One Thing: I'm choosing going to the cinema tonight. I was in two minds whether to go as I have so much to do but I'm glad I did. :)

5th May 2016

Mia: poor Mia! Today didn't turn out quite like I planned! When I left home at 10am, I didn't intend to stay out for the next 10 hours! So I've seen very little of Mia today. :(
Life: so I went and voted this morning. As Labour were the only party that bothered to put leaflets through my door, I voted for them. Then I went to the v.e.t. to ask about the changes to the plan they're making. I will try the new treatment on Mia but if it brings her out in blisters again I will dump it double quick and cancel the plan! After that, I caught the bus to New Brighton to meet up with Helen. We got ice cream from Caffe Cream (I had peanut butter and jelly, and gingerbread - they were delicious! :) ) and had a wander along the prom. The weather was gorgeous and I very much enjoyed the company. :) After we said our goodbyes, I caught the bus home... except I dozed off and missed my stop! So decided to stick on it all the way to Liverpool as I started a writing course this evening. With a couple of hours to spare, I went to Wagamamas for tunch and then John Lewis for Euros and then the art shops in search of Liquid Pearls. I then was desperate for the toilet so dashed into Leaf and then felt I ought to at least buy myself a drink so ordered a fruit ice tea which was very brightly coloured and looked more like a cocktail! After that, I walked across town to the library for my writing course. It was a positive start but there was someone I took an instant dislike to, so we'll just have to see how patient I am.
One Thing: I'm choosing walking in the sunshine with Helen today. It was lovely weather with a lovely person. I most enjoyed it! :)

4th May 2016

Mia: Mia was enjoying the sunshine today so I didn't see much of her. She seemed in good spirits though :)
College: no palava with the bus today so I was able to get to college for 8am. I finished off my FMP at about 11:15am and then met up with Patricia and we went over to the church for our meeting about Berlin. It seems well planned so I feel quite relieved about that as I was worried it was getting rather last minute. I hope it'll be an unforgettable experience in the best possible way. :) Then we came back for our contextual studies lesson except that I have nothing to do and sat and twiddled my thumbs until my tutor objected. So then I went home.
Life: this evening I went to Liverpool for BLS circle. It was great to be back in circle. I've missed it so much! Looking forward to the next one already! :)
One Thing: I'm choosing getting my FMP done 10 days early today. I'm hoping for a relaxing week or so before the real work starts on the end of year exhibition!

3rd May 2016

Mia: Mia seems to be drinking her milk again. She's turned her nose up at it for months - to the extent I'd stopped giving it her. But I tried again this week and, hey ho, she's decided she likes it again! I got cuddles for my effort. :)
Life: I phoned the vet this morning because they've changed my plan and I wanted some more info about what exactly I'm gonna get for my money. The receptionist was useless! Didn't know the first thing! So she put me on hold as she went to speak to the nurse and, you guessed it, cut me off in the process! I'll try again Thursday. This evening, as I wasn't feeling very hungry, I had strawberries and yogurt, cherry Danish, and jam filo parcels for tea - pure nutrition! I also finished off another canvas.
College: I had such palava with the bus to college this morning, I gave up waiting and drove in instead! When I got in, our tutor was awol so I went to the library to finish off my poster. After lunch, I went to my graphics lesson and my tutor decided my poster wasn't finished at all! So I spent the next 3 hours trying different things to improve it. I caught him just as he was about to go home to show him what I'd done and he suggested even more stuff to do with it! It's frustrating but it's better than twiddling my thumbs tomorrow and Friday!
One Thing: cuddles with Mia as usual. She just melts my heart! :)

2nd May 2016

Mia: Mia has had a day of being ignored. She's a very tolerant creature!
Life: at lunch time I went and did the food shop. Being veggie has certainly brought the price down! :) for tea I mad a Mediterranean veg, spinach and ricotta filo tray bake. The recipe was inspired by something similar my friend Jayne did for BLS a month or two back. It was very nice and I've saved the other three-quarters for my lunch this week. :) This evening I have been listening to Prince whilst doing some colouring. :)
College: this morning I designed a tag for contextual studies that I'm hoping will print on a vest. If it doesn't, I've probably ruined a perfectly good vest!
One Thing: I'm choosing the tray bake today. For something I made myself with no recipe, I'm well chuffed with it! :)

1st May 2016

Mia: another day of not seeing much of Mia. :( But we did have a brief cuddle just before tea time. It might've been emotional bribery but I appreciated it all the same. :)
Life: this morning I decided I would start going to the LGBT writing group. So, as the (optional) task for this month's meeting was to write 250 words on tension, I spent an hour doing that and then took it to the meeting. It was well received with people seemingly thinking I'd spent considerable care and attention over it! Lol! The rest of the meeting was very worthwhile and I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to next month's meeting already - the theme this time is Justice. I'm thinking of writing about a photoshoot. :) After the meeting, I had a quick walk around town in search of boots to replace the 2 pairs I've worn out this year but found nothing suitable. I also came across some market stalls outside BHS - similar to the Christmas markets (I've no idea whether it's a usual Sunday thing or just because it's a bank holiday weekend) - and one stall was selling some interesting jewelry. So I bought some earrings. :) I also made the mistake of looking at my bank balance at the cash machine. It was horrific! Thankfully my expenditure was in the hundreds last month and not the thousands but it was still horrific! :( This evening I have been listening to the new Beyoncé album whilst researching Berlin. The Beyoncé album was better than I expected but still not anything I'd rush out and buy (even if I was able to!). As for Berlin - shit, there's loads there! 2 and a half days isn't even really enough to give us a taster of it! :(
One Thing: I much enjoyed today's writing group meeting. Since I started at college, I haven't really focussed on my writing so much. I would like to change that this summer. :)