Goodbye College, Hello World!

Hello my little blog-reading-cupcakes! How are you all?

So I'm sat in Starbucks writing a post using my phone for the first time ever. I usually write posts on my laptop. At home. Usually while snugly wrapped in a duvet. But I was in town today and have some time to kill and I thought I'd go to Starbucks and start blogging, in the hope of fitting in here and looking like a real business woman. I mean, it would carry more weight if I had bought my laptop along with me but hey, I have enough weight to carry. Because I've stopped doing Insanity *sob sob*. Yep, it was just too hard. I didn't have the time, patience, or will to do it properly to be honest. But I am determined to do it one day. One day I shall conquer Insanity, Shaun T, and that bloomin' Tanya!!

Oh and in case you're wondering what I'm drinking whilst writing this post, it's a Mocha Cookie Crumble Frapaccino. And it's delicious! Ok so it IS cold outside and I DID plan on having a hot drink but the 'cookie crumble' bit caught my eye and everything else seemed incomparable.  So I'm freezing.  But it's worth it. And if I die of hypothermia today, at least I'll die happy. And full of cookies! AND chocolate.  That's got to be the best way to go, right? Full of the stuff you love.

Anyway I shall procrastinate no longer and get to the heart of this blog post. Ladles and Jellyspoons. . .I have finished college!!! Jai fini, finito, college mukagay (if you speak Panjabi). I am free!! I now have a BTEC Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care at Merit grade.  Which is equivalent to 3 A Levels at B grade. To be honest, I know I could have done better and got Distinction* (3 A*'s) but my health got in the way. But heyho, I'm happy!

So now I am looking for a job which is so exciting! The thought of my first payslip, earning my own money, being able to support myself properly. . . The excitement literally cannot be contained!! So please wish me all the best. Because I'm nervous! But excited all the same. Any hints, tips and insight into the World of Work would also be much appreciated!

I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at my college. I seriously had the best tutors anyone could ever ask for. That's such a cliché but it's honestly so true. I felt important at college and my tutors helped me to have confidence in my own abilities. Little nuggets of wisdom were given to me that I will keep close to my heart for years to come. Also, the jokes we had, teaching one of my tutors 'signs from da hood', getting into some pretty heavy debates, getting some amazing advice for the future,  exchanging cake decorating ideas, exchanging beauty advice.    . The works! It was all so fun and so memorable. And I cheekily wrote the address to this blog in some cards that I gave to certain tutors so if you're reading this, it's not entirely in vain. You know who you all are.

My college mates! I will never forget our crazy times together! The endless laughs, the half hearted goss, the fun, the winding each other up and the amazing chats about food! I shall miss it all! Some of you are going to uni, some are going on to do other courses and some are working.  You guys are seriously all amazing!! And I'm so glad I did this course. Because if I didn't,  I wouldn't have met such amazing, crazy, and some just downright annoying people who I love! I know most of us will keep in touch but still!

Also the college dinner ladies! You were all so sweet. One in particular always used to give me a bit extra curry/pasta/whatever I was having. And we always had a laugh. They shall be missed! And so will the amazing carrot cake that they used to make. But that's beside the point.

Finally, someone who I know will probably never read this blog because he doesn't know about it. He also probably doesn't even remember me. But he was someone who worked at my local Connexions office (when Connexions was still around!). When I finished school, I didn't know what to do with my life. I knew a little British Sign Language and wanted to be an interpreter but there were no sign language courses that I could join in my area. So I went to Connexions to see if they could give me some direction. Bare in mind I was taught at home since year 8 at school and I had no GCSE's.

So I saw an advisor who advised me to go onto a Health and Social Care course at the local college because they might touch on sign language a little. This was at the end of August so deadlines for college applications were approaching or had already passed. But he let me fill out an application.  I was nervous about what to write in the box where you had to state why you wanted to get onto the course. But I filled it to the best of my ability. When the advisor came back, he read my application and chuckled to himself. This got me worried and I think he saw this on my face. And with that he said something I will never, ever forget . .

"I have high hopes for you".

Well my confidence soared and I never looked back! He said he worked at the college and would hand the application in personally and put in a good word for me. Which he must have done because I was accepted onto the course. I never saw him again. And I don't know where to find him. Because I'd love to just thank him for his support and advice. And also tell him what qualifications this girl with no GCSE's now has. I reckon he'd be pleased. But ultimately I just want to thank him. Because it's partly because of him that I am where I am today. So thank you kind sir!

Anyway, I'm pretty much done with the thank you's. And I reckon the Starbucks staff are going to kick me out soon. So I'd better jet.

But thank you for reading this people! I really cannot express how much I appreciate your views! Oh dear. . . All these thank you's are totes emotes! I'm going to start welling up in this cafe! Help!

Have a good day cupcakes!

Keep Smeating!!

Ditzy xXx

College = Danger

College can be a very dangerous place. Yes, many of you may be thinking the obvious… stairs, with the possibility of falling down them; slippery floors; rowdy students; paper cuts, you know, the usual. However, I had an encounter with a much more dangerous… thing. To many, it provides assistance to get where they need to go. It proves to be very useful. But to me, it is a threat. It threatens my dignity, my reputation, my coolness (=P). Friends, I am talking about… the college Lifts (or elevators, if you’re based somewhere other than the UK).

So, I had gone to the college shop to stock up on ‘supplies’ (crisps, chocolate, drinks… the usual junk). Since we were up on the 4^th floor, I decided to take the lift up. Well, that was a mistake of gargantuan proportions. As I was getting in the lift, a very kind person pressed one of the lift buttons, only for the lift doors to close…right on me. For a split second, I was crushed between the lift doors. My whole life flashed before my very own eyes. The pain on my right arm was… excruciating, to put it lightly. Friends, not only was my arm battered and bruised beyond thought but my dignity, my reputation and, yes, my mega coolness had also been crushed between those lift doors. They remain there, pining for me to take them back. However, I am unable to do this. How can I regain all these attributes?? It is impossible *sob* =’(.

What made the whole thing worse was my friend laughing at the whole event… for at least 2 hours!! You know who you are =/

So peeps, just a warning. Be careful wherever you go. The lifts are more dangerous than the streets of London, I kid you not.

Oh and as promised, a big hello to my mate Wiktoria. You know who you are my amazing Pole Mole….. Sneeeeeekars =P

Ditzy Polka Dot xXx

Old is Gold ;)

So this week I've been working in a retirement home and so have been spending a lot of time with some pretty amazing elderly people. Let me tell you this: These guys have lead extraordinary lives!

To be completely honest, I wasn't too thrilled about working in a residential home. The thought of having to clean after people and help with their personal hygiene and other problems put me off. Please though, don't get me wrong. I am not a stuck up person who refuses to clean up after people. But believe me, being stuck in hospital on a ward full of elderly people who have no control over their bowels made me realize that, as much as I admire them, I would never be able to become a nurse. I'd rather not go into any details, but as soon as I saw a nurse wheel the commode about and those curtains being drawn, I knew what to expect but couldn't bare it at all, even though this literally happened every 20 minutes for the 3-4 days I was in.

However, I wasn't sat in bed scowling, if that's what you're thinking. I just felt sorry for the patients. I mean, to think these ladies must have lead some great lives, accomplished many things and had respected roles and to have been so independent, to then grow old and have to rely on someone for EVERYTHING. Being stripped of your dignity without being able to do anything about it. It got me really upset if I'm completely honest with you.

So anyway, you should get the picture. Being in hospital made me realise that I could never work with the infirm. However, after speaking to my (brilliant) course tutor, he encouraged me to take up a position in a residential home, where the residents don't need help with personal care so much, but just need that little extra support, company and just an eye kept on them really. So I decided to give it a go. I am sooooooooooooo glad I did!

My first day at the home I felt so sick with nerves that I thought I'd get to the front door of the Home and either collapse or cry. You'd be pleased to know, I did neither. I went in and was received by the few staff members that were there with a smile, told to take a seat with them and asked if I'd 'like a cuppa'. "Ha, they're treating me like one of them!!" I thought. I knew I'd have a great time here!

I was shown around, helped out with a few things such as handing out lunch and cups of teas throughout the day and collecting up dishes. I also had a chance to get to know some of the residents. That was THE best part of the day. Learning about one resident in particular, with her telling me all about her past career in the childcare sector and how she had stood up to various authorities and made a difference to so many children's lives was amazing and so inspiring! It made me really think about what I'd like to do in the future, because from then on, I knew wanted to make a difference just like Milly (all names have been changed to protect confidentiality).

I also met a gentleman named Norman (again all names have been changed). Before I was sent up to give Norman his cuppa, I was told that he was 103 years old (I KNOW! Can you BELIEVE it??) and that he didn't take kindly to strangers. So, with the tea shaking in my hand, my heart palpitating, nervous sweat pouring off my face (well, ok, not really, but it adds effect eh?) I knock on Normans door and enter. I give him his cuppa and ask him if he enjoyed his lunch, to which he said "well, it was nice to a point but, I was very hungry" =P. I have a bit of a chat with him and realize he is such a lovely person. In fact, I think I could go so far as to say we get on like a house on fire! So, what a great accomplishment I felt I had....accomplished? But another thing that amazed me was that he doesn't even look a century and 3 years old (it's even cooler when you put it like that in't it?). He honestly looked in his mid 60's or early 70's MAX but even that's going a bit far. I'm telling you, he hasn't even got a wrinkle on him! Whatever anti ageing he's using I want it!!

The staff are also lovely!!! You know how some people in a new workplace can be really stand-off-ish and be a bit cliquey and make you feel a little bit isolated? Well, there is none of that here! They took me in straight away and have been brilliant. They also treat the residents beautifully, just like their own family, which is VERY hard to come by these days. And it's not just a front they are putting on for me, the residents can't stop saying how well they are being looked after and how they couldn't be anywhere better.

So, I hope you've enjoyed this post. I know it's a bit different to my usual entries but I really wanted to share with you what a great time I've been having. So, if any of you are thinking about working with the elderly, I say go for it! They are GOLD (....gold, always believe in your soooooouuul, you've got the power to know........ehhhmm.........sorry, couldn't resist =P).

Oh and a side note, on my first day I was having such a great time talking to the residents that I honestly COMPLETELY forgot about having my lunch! It was about 2.30pm when I ended up having it and that was only because a member of staff asked me whether I'd had my lunch yet. And you guys KNOW how much I looooove food, right? So, it must be good!

Keep smiling folks!

Ditzy xXx