THE END OF ANOTHER YEAR

2014 has flown by like a breeze. Now it's the last day of the year and I'm trying to think of what my resolutions will be for the following year. Here are a few things that you can all look forward to reading on my blog in 2015...yes I know you're all at the edge of your seats right now!

2015 is the year where I hit the age of 21. I have been on this planet for 21 years and I have so much more that I need to learn about myself and the world. Birthdays are starting to seem not as exciting as they used to be. Maybe I'm slowly having to face the reality of growing up and accepting the fact that I'm no longer the child that I feel I am deep down.

Around a year ago, I mentioned that I was one of the co-founders of SKIP Lancaster and I haven't really talked about it since. We have progressed a lot since then with our research and development and have chosen our country that we would like to base our project in - Nepal. This year we'll be going out to Nepal to conduct more research on potential projects so watch this space to find out more!

As the newly elected charities officers, myself and R are hoping to organise a few fundraisers in order to raise money for various organisations. I'll be sure to post what these are.

A medical student will always have exams in the back of their mind throughout their degree and this year is no different. In a couple of months time, I'll be taking my end of year exams and hopefully through God's blessings I'll pass and progress through to third year.

If God willing I pass, then you can all look forward to posts about the start of third year and what the work load is like.

So, I would like to wish you all a happy new year. May this year bring you all wonderful opportunities to better yourself and those around you. God bless!

AND BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN...

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Just a quick message wishing you all a merry Christmas and I hope that your day was filled with joy. Keep in mind the true meaning behind this wonderful day as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

God bless you all!

HELLO STRANGERS

Yes I know it's been nearly a month since I've posted anything on my blog. It's been a while since I've had the time and chance to sit down by myself to collect my thoughts together.

Anyway, I'm back home for Christmas for two weeks! One of the wonderful things about medicine is that as you progress through your degree, your holidays get shorter and you have less free time. All those aspiring to be a doctor have so much to look forward to...

This post is going to be very short as it's just a quick message to all those that read my blog that I haven't completely forgotten about it and hope to carry on at least until I graduate.

As I'm now sitting at home with nothing to do, I'm hoping I can provide everyone with a chronologically inaccurate account of all the things that have happened in the past few weeks in later posts.

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND THE TREATMENT OF TROPICAL MEDICINE

It's finally time for me to do my SSM (Student Selected Module). Possibly one of my favourite aspects of the course due to the fact that it involves 4 weeks of reading into a topic of interest and writing a dissertation. Which is a lot less chilled out than the rest of the year!

So this year I picked "Epidemiology and the treatment of tropical medicine". As an individual with a growing interest for global health, this topic is perfect for me to explore in more detail over the next 4 weeks.

The disease I've picked is Ebola. As a current and topical issue, I thought it would be perfect for me to find out more about this virus and how it affects the lives of those living in West Africa and the incredible health professionals that are out there doing their part to contain this deadly disease.

I'm specifically going to look into how and why the Ebola virus is causing such global concern by using epidemiology to back up my findings.

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. 

A JAR FULL OF ENCOUNTERS

At the start of the year, I realised that I needed a more positive outlook on life. I noticed that over the course of the year, myself like many others focus on the negative events that occur in our lives; completely disregarding the wonderful opportunities that come across our way. 

As I was thinking of ways to document my most personal and happy thoughts that I didn't want to share with anyone but myself, I came up with this idea...

I found an empty jar and over the course of the year, my plan is to write little notes of all of the joyous moments that occur in my life. 

My plan is to open the jar on the 1st of January 2015 and read through all of its contents in private and it should provide me with an elated outlook for the following year.

If it works, I intend to continue with this idea every year.

If anyone else is in need of some positivity in their lives, then I urge you to try out this idea!

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.

Source

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

MIND BLOCK

Staring at my laptop screen, I'm forcing myself to wander through the far corners of my mind to articulate all the thoughts that are going on in my head. And yet I'm sat here with nothing to talk about.

The first half of the academic year is always filled with less exciting events in comparison to what occurs later on in the year.

I guess a part of the problem lies with the fact that I haven't had the chance to actually sit down with my journal and note down all the things that happen to me throughout the day in a while. Having to dedicate a lot of time to my course is making it more and more difficult to keep this blog up and running.

I know you're all going to be panicking about the fact that I may be taking this blog down! But hopefully I can think of new ways to keep my readers entertained.

In the meantime, I want to give a huge thanks to all those who read my posts and send me lovely comments. Sending lots of love and kisses your way...