Girl Rising

I've had a bad day, and now have a sore head. Netflix is open in the background but nothing is catching my interest. Accidentally my finger clicks and a video opens *drat*. I go to close it then decide to reply to a message on Facebook. A few minutes later and my ears prick up and the mention of the word 'Khmer'.

Anyone who knows me, knows I lived in Cambodia for 8 months. I look back with fond memories and often have a longing to be able to give those people who I called my friends there a massive massive hug. One such friend, who i've exchanged phone calls with since getting back is my beautiful girl Channa.

Upon hearing 'Khmer' (a word for the people of Cambodia) work my finger immediately locates the tab where it is playing. Upon catching a glimpse of this girl I recognise her. The story matches up. There's an uncanny resemblance. It's Channa's sister who I was lucky enough to met once while visiting the centre where they live.

As I watch the video hearing the background of this girl I classify as a friend tears came to my eyes. I never wanted to ask her background before though was always interested and now I know.

It seems the world is so small. Here is a link to a different video but one played at the 2011 World Conference where Channa's sister, Sokha, who was in the documentary Girl Rising was invited to attend and here met Michelle Obama!

http://girlrising.com/blog/10x10-at-women-in-the-world/

It's a small, unfair but yet beautiful world. I couldn't be more proud to know these girls, their courage, determination and strength is a real encouragement and puts my bad day in perspective.

Picture from http://international.wwu.edu/girlrising.shtml

The documentary features 8 other girls' stories from Afganistan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Peru,  Sierra Leone. This documentary is well worth a watch.!

When were you last happy?

Pitching this question to my parents and brother at lunch today, neither of my parents could remember and my brothers reply was 'now, because i'm cooking sausages'.

I am someone who gets happy easily. The prospect of sometime not remembering the last time I was happy, for me, is a frightening thought. I have two best friends who I am so grateful to have, and just being with them makes me happy. Last night I went bowling, that made me happy. I love having people over, never for anything terribly exciting, I just enjoy the company and chatter of other people.

Happiness is more than just hanging out with friends though, the Oxford Dictionary definition of happy is 'Feeling or showing pleasure or content'. 

My challenge for you make a list each day of a few things that made you smile during the day. Even if the list is full of small things, when you look back at the end of the day maybe it wasn't so bad after all. This could be especially useful if you have had a bad day, are feeling really down or just need a little pick me up at the end of the day.

Some people say they have nothing to be happy about, ultimately every person faces different struggles and hardships but it is up to them to look at the individual beauty that can be found in simple every day life. e.g. the sun, the landscape, the person they share their life with. 
This picture found on Pinterest shows some of the ways people can find happiness in their lives.
As a self assessment things I do from this top half are; have gratitude, live with balance, forgive, accept others as they are and for the most part I live simply.




Not everyone can be happy 100% of the time; it's just not possible. As well as getting happy easily I also get worried or sometimes can feel quite down. As I acknowledge this happens to me I have learnt how I can deal with it and/or the mood will pass. Often just trying to turn the situation on it's head and looking at the positives rather than the negatives will help.
To balance my positive elements of happiness things I do that have a negative impact on happiness are; I compare my selves to others, worry about money, don't do what I love.
Sometimes I feel held back to be myself incase those people I hang out with think i'm immature. I have a longing to be adult, grown up, I have my own house and can host a dinner party, but sometimes am still afraid to let my guard down.


So while I would judge myself as a happy person, I know there are still plenty of things I can do to make me happier. I strive to care less about those things that could make me unhappy and concentrate more on the negatives.

Last night I ate pizza and went bowling. That made me happy.
Last night I was walking in the dark only own at night while it was raining, I sang out loud. That made me happy.
Last night I was with 4 good friends. That made me happy.

When were you last happy?

Ed Sheeran Concert - 8/10/14

Photo from music scene.ie

Have you ever seen anything so great?

On Wednesday the 8th of October I had the absolute privilege of seeing Ed Sheeran perform live at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. We only booked tickets a week before, and therefore got restricted seating however even despite this fact the view was pretty good... It just meant that we couldn't stand up.

His whole performance was absolutely breath taking from the the minute he stepped on stage. Using a guitar loop pedal he recorded the different bits needed and layered it up (amazing use of technical language) to make one amazing sound.
The first time I saw a loop pedal being used was at the trans festival in the Waterfront Hall back in 2011, and to be fair, they didn't make the best use of it.  Ed on the other hand was flawless.

Until next year Ed.
p.s. marry me?

Some of my Favs

It's been almost 2 months since i've returned home from Cambodia and i've only just got myself sorted out. University is upon me and while I am enjoying it I see pictures on Facebook of people who are still touring about SE Asia or other wonderful places around the world - and by joe am I jealous!

I've posted most of my favourite pictures already but these are a few that are special to me. I'm not going to post a description of each photograph, let your imagination run wild.

So that's it. Cambodia is officially over - no more will be said about it... ever...

I'm in a boat.

Imagine you're in a boat sailing down a long river. 

At the start of the journey at the top of the mountain the river is just a trickle, following the path is easy; the stream is slow and all you have to do is stay in the boat and follow it. Over time the river gets a bit wider, you have to navigate to stay in the middle and keep on track. Eventually other streams join your stream, these new streams have all come from different places and the water may be a bit different, but your paths cross and now you are in the river together. As the river grows bigger still there's some rapids. You have to manage to stay in your boat to get over these rapids and also ensure that the others get over the rapids.
Overcoming these problems, eventually you meet the sea, a vast ocean of opportunities. Which way to go?

I'm not someone who finds making decisions easy. I like being at the top of the stream, where all you have to do is follow it. Once other people join your life you have to work out how to get on together; the problem with this... not everybody is genetically programmed to get along. We have to try our best to accommodate for other peoples needs, respect their weaknesses and not expect to be the same person.  However I think one of the ways to get over something is just to do it, dive in at the deep end, stick your feet over the edge of the boat...


Life also isn't going to be plain sailing, sometimes the water gets a little bumpy. These are the times that will be hard, but can be overcome with PERSEVERANCE and PATIENCE. (Things I am working on). These bumps need to be overcome, and will be. After all, what goes up must come down.

Eventually the river leads to the sea which is a vast body of the water but the same as what you have been sailing in from the beginning of your journey. The opportunities here are endless...which way to go? How far out do you go? Do you go alone or bring someone you've met along the way? Or do you stay on the edge of the river with what you already know? If you step out of the boat do you sink or swim?

Capture the Moment!

I in no way consider myself any good at taking photos, but there are some photographs I have taken throughout my time in Cambodia that I just really love!!

Most of them are not posed photographs but just a quick snap.

I have found Cambodia to be a very welcoming Country, everyone wants to say hi, and they don't all want you to buy something! Sometimes a quick conversation is enough to satisfy their needs.

Cambodia is still recovering from the horrific events of the Khmer Rouge and the effects can still be seen while looking at everyday life. There are very few elderly people to be seen around the streets, most people being 40 down. Poverty is still particularily evident, but beside the run down shacks families live in, spring up massive mansion to house the countries rich. The gap between rich and poor here is massive.

Regardless of their situation, I have found the kids I work with to be open, warm, loving, accepting and it's true to say I love them to bits. Where I work it is far from the Western World of materialism, the kids find amusement in simple things like playing in dirt, picking flowers, going for a walk at the river or simply poking their faces through our window with a cheeky grin.

There are up days and down days with working in a different country, with a different language, with kids who more often than not don't behave. But it is refreshing, and I love it.

<3

Phnom Penh

A step in the right direction

This is the case for me right now.
Over 15 months ago I went on a selection course, now i've been in Cambodia for a week staying in Phnom Penh. Tomorrow I move to Takmau till August.
That little step of filling out a 5 minute application form has led to this great journey. What if i'd have woke up in a different mood, or I had gone out that day instead of browsing the Internet... where would I be now?
The thought is crazy.
But I am happy here, and I can tell it's going to be great.

Last Day in Belfast

Sometimes there's nothing better than a drizzly day in Northern Ireland :)

London Winter 13

So mid December my mum and I took a trip flying to Liverpool, driving to Ormskirk, back to Liverpool, down to Northampton, then down to London. Primarily for looking at Universities, London was a jolly.

First thing we did in London was the London Eye, did we buy a guide for £10 to 'spot' things as we were going round, no. Did we spot things? Yes. Don't buy it, theres a guide in the actual pod anyway.

The views were great, London looked beautiful.

That night we went to see Les Mis in the West End, Les Mis is myabsolute favourite. I could talk about it forever but I won't. Absolute favourites were the guy who played Monsieur Thenardier, he was the understudy as well and absolutely fab. Eponine, played by Carrie Hope Fletcher - top performance. In terms of stage production, great. Swift changes of scene, loved the use of the rotating turn table thing. Good Job Les Mis.

The next day was shoppppppppping day. Mum sat in a Cafe while I had a browse around Oxford Street. Got bored then we went to London Bridge. I quite like history so this was interesting.

This is the Traitors Gate, originally the River Thames came right up to it and prisoners were brought through to be tried/executed. Anne Boleyn was sailed through here to her death, heads of recently executed prisioners were on pikes so the next victims could see as they were sailed through. Grim

Read more here  .

Coll Dec 13

This is Oban as viewed from a boat. It is a beautiful little town on the west coast of Scotland which is the main ferry point to get to the Hebredian Islands.

Beautiful Weather

Mega Jenga

Backpack Modelling

Now proud members of Glasgow Casino