Now I'm sure everybody knew this was coming... it's almost inevitable for somebody as sentimental as me, to create a blog post that remembers all the best bits of the previous year and some hopes for the new one! So I hope you enjoy a little insight into my year :) This will be another picture-heavy post showing some of my favourite 2013 memories...
This was taken in Spain, Murcia in May 2013... my first little holiday with Matthew :) It was a family trip, with my parents, grandparents, auntie and uncle and we stayed at a family apartment. We only went over for a long weekend but I have so many funny, happy memories! We did lots of swimming, eating, relaxing in the spa, shopping at little markets, walks on the beach and all other things 'holiday' ... if only I had tanned even the slightest haha!
My family :)
Next, comes my first girls holiday in Zante!! For someone who isn't a clubber, for various reasons... a trip to a place like Zante was a little worrying beforehand... but when I arrived I just had the most fantastic time! Spending time with the girls, swimming, sunning and having soooo many laughs made the whole thing so memorable!
We went to Zante's amazing turtle island! But not just by any form of transport... we hired our own speedboat which we drove across to the stunning island (shaped like a turtle)! Turtles are one of my favourite animals so as you can imagine, I well and truly enjoyed it!
We went on a boat party cruise, which again I was a little nervous about... I'd promised myself I didn't need to jump off the boat when everybody got the chance to... but much to my very own surprise... I ended up swimming ashore with everyone and it was probably the most thrilling/exciting thing I've ever done (no I don't get out much do I hahah)
After two amazing holidays... I came home to receive the verdict as to whether I'd got into University... or not. Much to my disappointment, I read an email at 8am on results day, to find that I hadn't got a place on the Psychology course. I was so gutted, until...fearing the worst, I went into college to pick up the results of months of hard work! After opening the envelope, I found 4 A grades (2 exams from June and 2 retakes from January) which I was both ecstatic and confused about (why did I not get into uni?) ... so I went to collect my art results, which were unexpectedly a D :( I was really disappointed as I put so much effort in... but there we go... that was the result! So, after an emotional day full of difficult decisions, I applied to the Sociology course at my chosen University instead... which I'm pleased I did :)
3 days on... was my 18th birthday!!! :D
This was the day I received the present of a lifetime! Disneyland Paris tickets for a week away in my favourite place, with my favourite person :)
After all the excitement, came more excitement haha. On the 8th of September, we celebrated 3 years of me and Matthew :) I felt so proud, happy and lucky all at once! (This picture wasn't taken on the day, as unfortunately I was away on holiday, so moonpig sent some surprises to Matthew's house until I got home! haha) Nevertheless... I'm so glad to have him in my life :)
Now time to chill out! I usually go on holiday once a year, or every other year... so to have this many in one year was very rare yet it's been amazing! Here, I'm in Majorca with my parents in September :) I went to Majorca with my family when me and my brother were little so it brought back lots of memories for my mum and dad :) The hotel and beach were so beautiful! It was lovely to spend time as a family somewhere sunny too!
This was probably the biggest change of my life so far... let alone this year! I moved off to University in late September... well, I say "moved off"... I only live around 40 minutes away from my chosen Uni, but I have my own little room there and it just feels a million miles away compared to living in my cosy house with my family! Usually, I'm not great with change... I spend the best part of the first few weeks of any kind of change... crying and being upset... but for once, this wasn't the case. I felt comfortable from the word go when I started Uni, which definitely surprised my family who were all ready for the emotional storm haha. I had off days, but for the most part... I've really enjoyed term 1 of University... and to top it off, I achieved a 1st in my first essay assessment... which was a real confidence boost just when I needed it!
And for the star of the show... the star of my life let alone year haha... was our holiday in Disneyland Paris :) Which I've spoken about in much more detail in one of my recent posts... but I think this picture really sums up the time we were there :) All the memories we've made together, will definitely be kept in my heart forever :) It was the most perfect end to the year I could of wished for!
.JPG)
.jpg)
After a fantastic Christmas... 2013 was coming to an end... and what a year it's been! I was sitting in the car yesterday (New Years Eve) watching the sun set on a fantastic year, and feeling sooo lucky for all the people in my life that made it so special. I've felt that I've become "myself", if that makes sense? I feel a thousand times more confident in myself and my decisions compared with how I used to. Of course, there were some hard times throughout the year, but I think for the first time I have been able to see meaning in "everything happens for a reason". I've made some lovely new friendships, strengthened old ones, and some have changed to become so much more positive. I think a combination of these friendships, having my family around me and all of Matthew's support has helped to finally make Laura Mcleod a slightly stronger person! woohoo!! haha :D
This was the first new year I spent without my family :( They were away in Scotland, but we FaceTimed, and on the plus side... it was the first new year I spent with Matthew :) For the past 3 years, I joined my family at Stirling Castle, but this year... we just had a lovely quiet one in the house, TV on, having a sing song :) It was so nice, perfect start to 2014! :)
So, with the new year having arrived already... there's a few little resolutions/goals that I hope, having written them here, I will stick to the best I can!
- Stress... less!
- Start up another saving plan for our next adventure :) (Matthew)
- Get some good, relevant work experience
- Budget... better!!
- Make my own decisions! This is quite an important one for me, as I tend to go with the flow as much as possible, but I find that by making my own choices, I feel a lot more comfortable and happy.
- Travel more (not necessarily abroad)
- Print off more photographs
- Go swimming with Matthew, once a fortnight (not really for fitness, just because it's fun haha)
- Maybe pay a bit more attention to my health/fitness/body
- Be more spontaneous (bit of a contradiction if I plan to be spontaneous isn't it? haha)
- Have a happy 2014, full of more amazing memories! :)
Happy New Year everyone, I hope it brings you happy times! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment