My Latest Best Read: Call The Midwife

After watching a couple of episodes of Call The Midwife when I was back in New Zealand, I was hooked. 

The day before I went to Budapest I needed a smallish sized book to stuff into my hand luggage; a book that would be perfect for the plane; a book that would be perfect to read when I had some downtime. 

Call the Midwife was the perfect solution. I devoured the book within two weeks, which is a pretty big accomplishment for me! It's not often I love a book from the very start til the very end, so that's saying something! 

Jennifer Worth writes from her own experiences of being a midwife in the East End during the 1950's. She tells stories of her patients, her co-workers and what it was like living in a time that is a complete contrast to now. 

Reading about the living conditions in the 1950's, the types of work people had to endure, the different lives they lead, new medical marvels like The Pill and the NHS system - all things we take for granted these days! 

Each chapter was written from the heart and shared so beautifully, it made me have real feelings for those people; sadness, compassion, hope, joy.

This story really made me think of how lucky I am to be living in a day and age, where medical services are at the tips of our fingers; I am lucky enough to have a pretty ok paying job; I'm lucky enough to live in a flat that's warm and cosy and doesn't leak; I have access to food and water when ever I please. 

I was a little bit sad when I finished reading it. I never wanted it to end. Never fear - there are two other books that follow on from this; Shadows of the Workhouse and Farewell to the East End.

If you are yet to watch the TV series, you can catch season one and two on this link! Call the Midwife season 1 and 2. 

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a little bit of history whilst reading something beautiful, yet sad, yet amazing. 

This week's lovings

Getting my craft on!

I made this felt board for my kids at work, to help them retell 'brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?'

They loved it! Now I need to get my a into g and do one for Dear Zoo!

Autumn surprises

I love capturing shots like these. They make my heart all warm.

 The morning that was

As soon as this happened (it hasn't been the first time either..) I knew the odds were going to be against me for the rest of the day. And they freaking well were. I can laugh about it all now, but I was less than impressed on the day!

Pranks

Through our school we can order resources from the local library for the kids. A teacher had ordered a taxidermy fox (?!?!?!), so I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to play a few tricks on some fellow work people! Needless to say, a lot of people picked up on the trick pretty quickly. The best reaction was from the Head Teacher (principal) after I showed him the fox and told him I had caught it in the foyer. He fell for it, hook line and sinker, and proceeded to get very nervous about what was in the box after we had said I put it in there to show him!

Onesies

I'm quite a onesie advocate and rather enjoy buying and wearing them! I purchased this badboy for our pj day at school that we've just had. It's comfy as and I've spent more than enough hours in it this weekend!

Linking up with Meggy Moo!

London - The City with the Love Hate Relationship

Sometimes London is hard. Sometimes it's amazing.

It's hard being so far away from some of the most special people in my life, especially on weeks like these. But then I just remind myself of how many awesome opportunities I've had and got at the moment; the memories I've got from the last two and a half years.

Ma and Pa and me on Wellington waterfront, trip home July 2013

When I was training at uni to become a teacher, I never in my life thought I'd be teaching deaf kids in London. The London part had crossed my mind briefly, but teaching kids with complex needs? Na-uh.

An impromptu trip to the travel agents one lunch break landed me with a one-way flight to London five months later. I had my 21st, graduation ceremony, leaving one of my favourite jobs and my departure all with a matter of 10 days. Yeah, doing things by halves isn't completely my style.

I've left some of the best friendships behind, like this one...

One of the best. Wellington, August 2013

and this one.

The last goodbye. Wellington airport, August 2013

But then I've made some pretty freaking awesome friendships over here too. This girl is alright I guess...

Sara and Dan's engagement party. October 2013

And so is this bunch.

Danielle's birthday. October 2013

I've been able to travel to destinations I had only ever dreamed of. Porto, France, Malaysia, Stockholm, Budapest just to name a few...

'Borrowed' from Cara from our latest adventures to Budapest. October 2013

I've been able to meet some very loved family members in the UK who I've only ever heard of my whole life. I've been able to celebrate my grandparents' lives, as they all came from Scotland or London.

My precious Great-Aunt Nell. She's one in a million. July 2011.

In amongst all the business of London, I've been finding it so important and I guess soothing, to remember all of these amazing times and opportunites I've had. 

Like meeting my second cousin, Patti Clare, who plays Mary Taylor in Coronation Street! October 2013

In a way, it's kinda like the gift that keeps on giving. 

I can keep travelling. People can keep coming to visit. I can keep working at an amazing school. I can keep building a lifetime of experiences and memories. 

Basically, I can just keep on, keeping on. 

Tower Bridge, January 2013.

A little bit of gratefulness, a little bit of loving, a little bit of life.

On my way home from work this evening, I started making a mental to-do list. I erased it and started again loads of times, mainly because I couldn't remember what was on each list. I just couldn't bear to put my hand into my bag and get my phone, cos then the list would be for real. 

I still can't remember most of what I had planned out to do and all those 'important' things but here's what's in my head now...

- I really need to put my photos from Budapest onto my laptop for a few reasons. 1) So I can look at them. 2) So I can email Cara the ones of her. 3) So I can blog about it all - I've got a few lined up for ya! 4) So I can keep remembering a pretty choice holiday I had. In the mean time, you can pop over to Cara's blog, Britventures, and check out what she had to write about it all! 

On the walking tour we did. All the Hungarian history got a little bit too much!

- I joined the gym yesterday. I got a pretty sweet deal - the gym, classes and the pool all for £18.50 a month! - all because I teach in Islington! Choice! And you can use any of the facilities in the Islington borough under the Aquaterra scheme! 

Luckily there's one right behind Archway station which is super close to my house. I popped along tonight, a little bit nervous as it's been a wee while since I've actually done proper exercise. I play netball once a week, but I needed more!

I strolled on over to what I thought was the cross-trainer, and low and behold, it wasn't. So after entering my all the important stuff and going for a few minutes, I realised that I was on the stepper. The freaking stepper. I immediately thought I CANNOT do 20 whole minutes on this thing! I lasted for 10 before my legs nearly gave out - in the mean time, I spotted the actual cross-trainers and did 30 minutes on that afterwards! 4 miles of exercise baby!

Whilst I was sweating up a storm, I also realised that wearing 'ear-muff' type headphones wasn't the best idea. I love my Skull Candy headphones, but I don't think they're going to love the pools of sweat that were congregating around my head and neck! Lesson learned. 

I make a point of not weighing myself as I find it quite easy to get all caught up in the firago that comes along with. I decided that I'd just hop on it for old times sake after realising I have no idea what I weigh and I'm a little bit stoked with the results. I've had the opposite of the 'London weight-gain', and since I left two and a half years ago, I've lost 15kgs, and I'm back down to that! I don't remember the last time I weighed this much! CHOICE!

Széchenyi thermal baths in Budapest

- I also love smoothies. They're rather easy to whip up but I seem to not make time to do it in the mornings! On the weekend I was craving one, popped down to Sainsburys and bought the essentials, and voila. We had a happy hungover Nikki on our hands!

- I also love Autumn. I love all seasons but for different reasons. Autumn = amazing colours, crunchy leaves, sunny cool days, refreshing air, and the exciting times when I get to wrap in warm in all sorts of woolen and winter paraphernalia!

My £5 cat dress off eBay! 

- Lastly, I love this song. It gets played at least three times a day, much to everyone's disgust. But I'm obsessed with it at the moment. I like her studio version better than the video clip as it's more raw, but the video is pretty rad too!

Gabrielle Aplin - Home

Linking up with Cat this week for things I'm loving and Simoney for the grateful project!

Sometimes I'm Adventurous

There are times when I jump at the chance to do something a bit adventurous and I really enjoy it. Then there are times when I jump at those chances, then freak out half way through.

Example one: The Good

One of my best friends ever and I and her family all decided to go sky diving. Oh yeah, this will be choice she said. Well it was actually amazing! The plane ride up was the scariest part! Not to mention, being half strapped in dangling from the ledge of the plane while the instructor continued to strap me in. That part was freaking terrifying. But the actual jumping and flying part - no problemo! 

I would sky dive again in a heart beat!

Example two: The Bad

So I was up in Auckland a few months ago, and Simone and I were being tourists and decided to go up the Sky Tower. Oh yeah, this will be choice she said. I hate lifts. Like really really don't like them and I will go out of my way to not like them and use them. 

So up the Sky Tower we went, up the anxiety went. I did love it, once we were back on the ground though! 

I may probably never Sky Tower again. Don't get me wrong, the views were amazing! But I just didn't fancy it.

Example three: The Good (well kinda)

When I was I think 15 I went down to Invercargill to spend a few weeks with a good friend who had moved down there. We went up to Wanaka for a week of camping by the lake and whilst we were there, we had a brilliant idea of driving to Queenstown so I can go Bungy Jumping. 

I was buzzing and thought, Oh yeah, this will be choice! I'm jumping off a super high bridge and getting dunked in the water! Que the nervous farts, and the standing on the ledge. And we have one Nikki who didn't listen to the instructions properly, ended up with two swollen bruised eyes (I seriously looked a bit Chinese..) and the cartilage torn of some ribs. 

I'd love to say I loved it, but went into shock for the rest of that day and don't actually remember jumping. Luckily I have it on DVD! 

So I would definitely Bungy Jump again. But, would definitely not get dunked in the water again!

Example four: The Bad (and a little bit good)

So I went on a date that wasn't a date but it might have been a date but probably wasn't one. Basically I met him at the bottom of this colourful building...

.. and we caught the lift right up to the 39th floor. Shit I mean great! The lift ride wasn't too bad, it had a glass wall so I could see myself hurtling up above London at a speed I was less inclined to enjoy. Once we got up there the views were sooooo amazing that it washed away all the anxiety and I could enjoy myself. And after a few wines the ride down wasn't too bad! 

 

And there folks, I think I can safely say that I'm more 'into' being adventurous when there's more risk involved! 

Gratefully Loving on Special Friends

I could write a post about how I've lost the will to blog, or I could write a post that I've been mustering up in my head for a wee while now.

I think I'll go with the latter.

I have this really special friend. We became friends kinda by accident. I was her oldest child's teacher at day care and me and him became buds. Pretty good buds. We had 'Nikki cuddles' and would read stories all the time together and play loads of chasing games. 

Then I decided to move to London. 

In the few months between announcing my departure and actually leaving, I became quite close to his mum. And what a life changer it has been. It was almost a bit sad that I left at the beginning of something awesome, but the distance hasn't gotten in our way. Maybe only a little bit, seen as how we're both on the other sides of the world from each other, but never fear - Skype, Facebook and WhatsApp are here! 

This pretty choice chick, who also goes by the name of Meg, Meghan or my BFF4L, has got one of the hugest hearts that exist. That's a pretty big call to make, but it's 100% absolutely true. 

She introduced me to blogging, which coincided nicely with last minute bonding time before I left Wellington and started travelling, and after just over two and a half years, she's still my top 'blog-adviser'! 

She welcomed me into her family with the widest, most openest arms ever, and I'm pretty confident in saying that I won't be going anywhere, anytime soon! Sorry lovey, you're stuck with me now! 

You see, Meg is just really pretty choice. She's got a pretty choice husband and two super lush boys, who I all love to bits! 

It was one of my favourite parts of being back in New Zealand a few months ago, knowing that I was going to be seeing Meg and the boys, having chats about whatever rolled off our tongues, having quality chill-out-catch-up time. Basically whatever we did, it was fun. 

It was all the same again when Meg, Mark, Noah and Mylo all came and had a sleepover at my flat in London last week! I met them at the Natural History museum where Noah proudly showed me around the dinosaur exhibition - this kid can teach you a thing or two about dinosaurs! We had some of the best curry I've had in London for dinner that night, then me and Meg hopped into our matching pjs! I love being matching. 

After work the next day I met them all for dinner at my local 'spoonies' then we ventured back on the bus back to my house. I could tell (mainly because Noah had said he wanted to sit right up the front) that the boys really wanted to be, right.at.the.front. It's such a fun experience and a must do, so Noah and Mylo, your wish was my command! 

A few minutes later and after asking some man to move over, who got all nervous at the thought of us sitting next to him who ended up moving anyway, we sat merrily at the front, chatting about the things we could see and how close the bus would get to the cars! 

We enjoyed some delicious wine, after carefully talking Mark through how to spot good and cheaper wine at Sainsburys, had a little laugh at the new name I gave it, it's amazing what adding an extra O can do!, and continued to hang out like civilised adults... 

I miss these guys so much. It was a sad morning saying goodbye to them, knowing that when I next see them is unknown in the foreseeable future. 

But hey ho, that's what memories are for. They're the best.

Things I'm Loving!

Some lovings from this week...

Craft club

Cara and I are doing a craft club with year 6 children for the next 10ish weeks. This was our first creation!

 Discoveries

If you've been following me for the last few weeks, you'll know I've been trying out being gluten free. I've tried the other muesli by the same brand but this one kicks some serious butt! The coconut and cinnamon in it is sooooooo delicious!!

Long hair

Mainly due to the fact that it costs an arm and a leg to get a hair cut in London, my hair is getting pretty long now. I think this is probably the longest it's ever been, so it's perfect for fish tail plaits!

Winter

I'm really looking forward to winter this year! Crazy I know, but I have a new coat I've only worn twice, I've just bought this choice rabbit jumper to add to the collection, not to mention the surplus of scarves and hats I have - I want to wear them all now!!!!!

Sun surprises

There's been some mega fog in the mornings lately, so it was like a breath of fresh air to snap the sun rising!

Smoothies

When I was back in New Zealand I was having a smoothie nearly every day and the second day I was back in London, I invested in my very own blender! The plan was to make one each morning and take it to work for breakfast - that lasted two days! But after a quick trip to Sainsburys this morning, I had one delicious smoothie on my hands!

Colour-pops!

I bought this dress from Temt when I was back home and tonight it's getting its second outing! The dress itself I'm not a huge fan of, but those sleeves! They're the best part!

Linking up with Meg who I can't wait to see in a few weeks!