CHARITIES OFFICERS

Earlier on in my blog, I mentioned that I got the opportunity to choreograph the dances in the MedSoc panto - Aladdin. Well the event was a huge success!

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In order to respect confidentiality, I have blurred everyone's faces. It's not because we're an ugly bunch...

I have even more good news! At the annual winter ball, myself and my friend (R) got elected to become the successive charities officers on the exec of the medical society. This means that we get to organise the panto next year (Lion King is on the cards!) and many other events in order to raise money for charity. We're both very excited for the year ahead of us!

A VISIT FROM MY BEST FRIEND

It's been 10 years since I've known her. She taught me how to street dance and gave me lots of great memories. 

Moving away to university has showed me who my true friends are. Throughout high school, I had a great set of friends and at the time I thought I'd be friends with them for what seemed like forever. Leaving my home town and starting a new life half way across the country, started to show the cracks in the relationships that I used to have with people. 

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul" - Choreographing routines with B was like being separated from the world and forming a bubble of our own. I guess this connection is what has kept our friendship strong for all these years. 

LOU LOU'S VINTAGE FAIR

There's nothing I love more than doing a bit of vintage shopping. Each item you hold in your hand has a history and it has been worn by individuals who may or may not have been through remarkable journeys in their lives. 

As soon as Rumi found out that Lou Lou's vintage fair was coming to Lancaster, she was eager to go an check out what was on offer.

RETAIL THERAPY IN MANCHESTER

I like to think that I'm not a materialistic person. Worshipping man made items have never appealed to me so I hate buying things for myself and when people buy things for me. (Except for my family of course as they sort of owe it to me for me being in their lives!)

Myself and three of my friends decided to exploit the free weekend we had to go to the Trafford Centre in Manchester to do a bit of shopping.

The fact that the centre was filled with Christmas decorations and lights got me even more excited about my favourite holiday of the year being just round the corner. 

LATE NIGHT WALKS

Even though Lancaster isn't one of the largest cities in England, I do on a regular basis become mesmerised by its surreal natural beauty.

Ashton Memorial is an exquisite building that's mathematically in the centre of the United Kingdom. It is considered as the Taj Mahal of the North as it was built by a billionaire for his wife. I've been told that the view from the top is spectacular during the day but walking around Williamson park and looking across the Lancaster skyline at night time is simply breathtaking.

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The other night my friend took me to Williamson Park to see the view from atop the memorial as I had never been there before. Even though I have been in Lancaster for over a year!

There's nothing more peaceful than going for a long walk with a close friend and breathing the cold crisp air as you ramble on about things that won't matter to anyone else but you. I love experiencing the world at night. There's a change in character in the people you see walking down the street and the buzz of the day is replaced with a sense of calmness as people let their hair down and forget the worries of the day that has just passed them by.

So what did I enjoy most about being on top of the most central building in the UK?

It has to be the night sky that was illuminated with speckles of stars and the earth that was radiating with lights of the busy Lancaster night life. You feel serene as you watch over this beautiful sight.

First dates, family outings, friends gathering and individuals enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

Priceless

CHILDHOOD FRIEND

For confidentiality purposes I'm going to call her SJ

Lately I've been talking to my childhood friend from Oman. I've known her from ever since I can remember. We went to church together, we were in the same classes and we did pretty much everything together. In the year 2003, everything changed.

When my mum told me that we were moving halfway across the world to England, I was devastated. Not only was I leaving my comfortable life in Oman and the friends that I shared my childhood with; I was also leaving SJ. She may deny it now but I still remember how we were both in tears when I eventually told her. I was moving to an alien country to start a new chapter in my life but I wanted her to be one of the characters in my new book. We vowed to stay in touch and at first, we both kept our promises. But like a vast majority of friendships, as life became more hectic and difficult, the frequency of the calls and efforts made to contact each other decreased; until eventually it stopped on both sides.

Five years went by...

We both changed. We grew taller. Our bodies changes. Our attitudes, morals and values were taking shape. We were starting to become individuals in our own right.

We stumbled across each other's profile on a social media site and began talking. I'm going to be completely modest and say that conversations with me don't tend to get awkward unless I want it to! However, this time around I was quite nervous to start talking to her. 

We are so different from the little girls in pigtails that used to run around the international school in Oman. Nevertheless, after all these years the conversation flowed regardless of the North Atlantic Ocean that keeps us apart. It's quite strange talking to SJ, it feels as though I'm reliving my childhood in the country that I was born and brought up in. 

I love hearing other people's stories about the one friend whom they've known for what seems like an eternity. I used to wish that I had that in my life too. But moving from country to country has made it difficult (Not that I would change that!) But now I'm beginning to see that I too have a childhood friend. Someone I used to share all my secrets with and someone with whom I will always have a million things to talk about. We may be living in different countries but hopefully our friendship will last as long as others in the world who are lucky enough to have that special friend for years to come. One day, I hope to visit you in America and relive the days we ruled Indian School of Darsait!

I know that you read my blog so hello! :) I hope I haven't made you cringe too much with this post.