Well, it has nearly been 2 years since I last wrote a post, and man has time flown. Where do I even begin? Well backtrack to me passing my driving test, I had a good summer, went on an archaeological dig in Silchester with some of my friends which I really enjoyed. I then resumed my job which I had to take leave from in May at the beginning of September. I mentioned the magazine article in 'That's Life' my last blog, and the article came out in October, which I was very pleased about, and still have a copy today! The payment that they so very kindly gave me has gone to my gap year fund.
So obviously 2013 was a very busy year as I was studying for my A-levels, which due to the fact I missed out on my AS exams because I was in the hospital, meant that I found it very hard catching up on my exams. After taking my first ever holiday abroad without my parents to the island of Kos, near Greece with my friends, which was amazing by the way - but getting sunstroke at the beginning was not part of the plan! Anyway, I got my exam results in August, A*BB, which was great, but originally I was upset because it meant I was unable to go the university I was planning to - UCL, and I didn't want to go to my reserve choice, Reading. So I decided to take a gap year, originally I was going to retake an exam and try to get into UCL again, but after all I chose to not put myself through doing another exam again, therefore I am now heading off to Royal Holloway, University of London, in September to study English and Classical Studies.
However in between September and now I have been working very hard in various jobs to raise money, to begin with, I had no idea what I was saving for, maybe for university or for a holiday, I hadn't decided at this point. I still had my job at the Wyke Down pub, and they managed to give me 4-5 permanent shifts a week, but I thought I would need other jobs so I searched around and managed to get a job at Waitrose Newbury, working in the cafe, which paid well, but I did not enjoy it and felt like I was just a number to them, so after staying there for 6 months, and enjoying the discount as much as I could, I left. But during this time I also tried out one shift at Norton Park Hotel - Qhotels, yet I could only manage 1 shift because I had to work 8.5 hours without a break, and just hated it! I tried to get a job with Winchester Cathedral working in their Christmas Market, however, unfortunately, that fell through.
In January my friend Beth and I visited New York for 4 days, which was honestly amazing, and one of the best experiences ever! We visited Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, Central Park/Zoo, Broadway, Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero to name a few!
This weekend was such a success my other friend Sophie and I visited Paris in April and went to all the touristy places such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc d'Triomphe. At the beginning of February, I booked a two week trip to South Africa with Real Gap to Live with Lion Cubs on a Safari Game Park, which is actually coming up at the end of this week!!!
Currently, I have now booked a 3 week trip to New Zealand as well as a 4 week trip across northern America and Canada, and I am going to Thailand with my family for 2 weeks too! Lots of travelling within the next few months, finally ending in going to St Ives, Cornwall with many of my friends from Sixth Form, but then of to university.
Therefore all the money I have saved is going rapidly!!!! But I guess that is good for my trips, but I am very very nervous about going abroad alone! Anyway, I hope to write again before I go to South Africa, but if not I will write either there or when I get home.
Have a great week my loves!
Lots of Love, Kate xxx
