Life Lately & Things To Come ..

These photos have been sat in my drafts for a few weeks now, waiting for me to put some words down to go with them. This day in particular was a pretty nondescript, uneventful day but still beautiful nonetheless. We took a calm stroll along the Exe Estruary, heading towards the direction of my old hometown Exeter and met dad, who was fishing on the beach. The sea was flat and still, while the sky was weighing heavily with grey threatening clouds. It looked as though the heavens could open at any moment and piss down on us!

The Exe Estuary is a scenic stretch of coast trailing out all the way to the South of the city of Exeter and it's a lovely walk for anyone wanting the calming presence of the sea in any weather. The coastal walk, with it's green fields and wooden fences on one side, and endless silent beach on the other, is a stark contrast from the lively, animated amusement arcades and sugarly smell of fried doughnuts just behind it in Dawlish Warren.

The concoction of the rolling emerald fields and calm, teal sea represents beautifully why I love living in the South West!

I thought I'd do a little update on life lately. I've been so crap at blogging lately; the combination of night shifts, long days and getting to grips with my new car (blog post soon!) has exhausted me and I've spent most of my free time collapsed on my sofa with my face in a book instead of tapping away at my laptop.

It's 1st August today - although you could easily assume it was October looking out of the windows in the bay today at work. The beginning of August means only one thing to me - I'm officially moving to Bristol next month! While there are a few things which are making my stomach feel like there's a lead balloon in there at the moment (driving around Bristol, saying bye bye to my mum *sob*..), the nervy things are faaar outnumbered by the amazing things I have to be excited about ...

Starting my Nurse training! Staff Nurse Pridham has a ring to it, don't you think?

I can't wait to receive my reading lists, sit in lecture theatres, have my first lessons in the Skills Simulation Suite and get out on my first placement as a Student Nurse. I may or may not have already ordered myself a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer .. (Try saying that after a few gin and rose lemonades!)

Meeting new people and making new friends! Since starting work at Treliske, I've met so many inspirational people who are fantastic at their jobs; empathetic, caring, friendly, energetic, willing to share their knowledge and skills, and mostly just lovely to be around. I may be as typically introvert as they come and you're much more likely to find me at home with a cup of tea and a book than downing shots in a bar (well .. most of the time!), but you have to have a certain amount of compassion and love for being around people to be able to do this job. I can't wait to meet more like-minded people at University - the best friendships are definitely those where you can have a poignant, deep conversation about life and death matters one minute ... and then cackle at a poop joke the next!

Exploring Bristol! There is so much to do in this city! I first visited Bristol around 6 years ago when my brother was ill and undergoing treatment at Bristol Children's Hospital (he's fine now :)). Although we were there for, quite frankly, shit reasons I became curious about what the city had to offer from our first few days there. And it wasn't just my first batch of Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

It was in Bristol where I first encountered the incredibly passionate and dedicated Nursing staff that made me think 'Bugger sitting at a desk all day, this is what I want to do with my life!' 

As well as putting in the hard graft to earn Registered Nurse status, I intend to have lots of fun and do plenty of sightseeing aswell. I can't wait to see Clifton Bridge in person for the first time, watch the hot air balloons soar above the city, have relaxed afternoons strolling around botanical gardens, spot Bristol's trademark random graffiti dotted around the city,  and drink warm mulled cider at The Apple when the weather turns colder!

And as for missing being a stone's throw away from the sea? A quick Google search has reassured me there are 8 beaches within a 20 mile radius from Bristol, and I'm sure once I've lost my New Driver Nerves, there will be no stopping me!

Driving adventures blog posts coming soon ...