Friday, April 28, 2006

The end of my first week

Well I made it through my first week, and I have to say that is just keeps getting better and better. Together, Leigh and I have managed to get through most of the casework, so that we can get to go out and do site visits more.

It's so nice to be working in a place where everyone has pretty much the same views on the environment, and you can have some really informed discussions about things. Today I was discussing fishing lakes and the impacts on SSSI rivers, which was really interesting, and there is the possibility that Leigh and I can go out and learn a bit more about fisheries with experts.

I'm also learning lots more in depth stuff about legislation and what landowners can and can't do, so it's all very useful!

Monday, April 24, 2006

First day at work

Well today marked a new beginning of my life, with my first proper job (PGL doesn't really count!).

It went ok, the people are really nice and the work sounds interesting, though I do have concerns about the routine nature of it, but we'll see. I would like to be outdoors more, but I can't have it all, and the experience will be brilliant on my CV. It is most definitely going to be better than PGL though!

However, I was very bad and looked up stuff about my Dad's cancer, and of course that made it all worse, with talk about survival rates and symptoms, so I shall just try to forget about it all. It was going to be such a good year as well.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Last PGL photos










Nikki, Abi and Stacey; The star photo: Hannah comatose!; leaving PGL; Diana and Vicky; DaveDawnBonnieVicky; This doesn't really need an explanation!; DaveMattScottAndy.

Leaving

My first post as an ex-member of PGL!

We went out the night before, firstly for a meal at the Sloop and then for a night out in Sandown at Bogey's, where a good time was had by all. Indeed, somebody made it even better for me - how time flies when you are having fun!

We got back to the centre at about 2am, where we then proceeded to finish off my alcohol, before Hannah and I set off on a drunken stagger around the centre. She then collapsed on my bed, and had very little response at all, so we were quite worried. I do have some brilliant photos of the occasion, which will be displayed for all to see very shortly!

So the next day, after only 3 hours sleep (got to bed at 5am!) I got packed and then got a call from my Dad saying that he had bone cancer, though very early stage and not needing treatment, though he is under observation every two months. It came as a bit of a shock, I guess you don't think these things will happen to you. My roommate Niki was very understanding, especially as her Mum has had cancer for a while.

So anyway, a few people turned up to say goodbye, most of the ones that mattered anyway! I will miss them all loads, especially karaoke on Thursdays.

Did you know, Andromeda is actually a galaxy AND a constellation? Just thought you should know.....

Friday, April 21, 2006

Photos and last 24 hours!








It is so strange to be saying that this time tomorrow I will be leaving Little Canada for good! Everyone was really nice about it last night, when there was Karaoke in the bar (as per usual), with lots of songs dedicated to me. I also sang loads with people and Matt and I sung Satisfaction (though he made me laugh so much with his dancing that I didn't really sing that much!).

Anyway, here are some photos of my easter hols and more PGL friends (The Needles; Mottistone Down; Emma and I; Emma, Nicole, Nick, Kathryn, Paula, Me; Matt despondent at Whitecliff Bay; Helen; Helen and I drunk at the Balcony).

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Easter hols

I've just got back from my regular family hols at Easter, this time to the........IoW!!!!!!

As PGL couldn't give me any more notice than a week about whether I could have the time off, we had to book somewhere, so ended up going there. It was actually a really nice trip, with lots of short walks and looking at the coastal scenery, but all-in-all I would rather have gone somewhere else! The experience was also slightly marred by the fact that Heinrich (our motorhome) had no heating or hot water, so no showers, meaning we had to wash our hair in buckets of water heated up on the hob!!!!! We went to the following places: Sandown beach and Bembridge Down, Mottistone Down, Parkhurst Forest, Firestone Copse, The Needles, Yarmouth, St Boniface Down. Photos to follow!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to my last night (meal at The Sloop, followed by a night out at Bogeys in Sandown). Before all this merriment I have to get through a couple of days of pointless field studies (the teachers do everything, even the intro talks and evening IT followups, so we are only there during field work to ensure all is safe) and then a whole day of site work, which is equally pointless!

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Final leaving date

Right, now I've basically said to PGL that I am leaving whether they like it or not. All they can do is ask me to pay any training costs, which I would have to do anyway, so I am now leaving on the 22nd. This means that I can have a big night out the previous night (payday, Hannah's birthday, me leaving) and really go out with a bang.

I really can't wait to leave though!

Friday, April 07, 2006

Some more photos










Clockwise from top left: Bonnie; Nikki and me with new hair (I had mine straightened); Vicky's birthday party crew; Esta, me and Niki.

Update on leaving

Right, I've had a chat to try and cut my notice period down, but unfortunately, due to a very busy week then, they probably won't be able to. The next training course (TC3) come down on the 16th of April, so if they get enough they might be able to let me go. So I may end up staying until the beginning of May. This has an up side because then I will get to do more field studies sessions.

Anyway, boring day today, just had a lifeguard session with an older youth group, where I narrowly missed going into the pool!

I had karaoke again last night, where as usual I sang loads of songs, though they were mostly ballads this time (not on my own obviously!).

Thursday, April 06, 2006

So much has happened!

Sorry for the lack of contact, but the internet has not been working for about a month!

So, developments:

Did some field studies sessions on my own offsite, which went really well, even though one of my students lost one of the digital cameras! Was very pleased at how much they learnt, especially as they were 14 year olds. So I have now done 3 sessions on my own the entire time I have been here (obviously lots of normal activity sessions too).

AJ left to go to another centre in France, and so far I can't say I miss him! Robbie left though, and I have to say I cried when he left (for a sailing PGL centre in France) so I will miss him loads: we sung Love Shack together during Karaoke (where I am a regular)!

Bonnie and Hannah have been sent to a Pontins centre (Camber sands in Sussex) for two weeks, which is annoying.

I am going on holiday with my family for a week over Easter to the fun location of..... the Isle of Wight!

Oh, and I now have a new job, starting in hopefully a couple of weeks (if I can sort out my notice period which should be 4 weeks). I received a call during a session which I called back - it was from English nature in Lyndhurst. Some of you may remember that I went for a couple of interviews for Assistant Conservation officer jobs, neither of which I got. However, someone has gone on maternity leave and so I have been offered the post, fulltime ending at the end of September, which I am really excited about. Obviously, it will be sad to leave here, as I have made some really briliant friends, and was starting to mwiden my group of friends even further by setting up a swimming club with my new buddy Diana (who also might be leaving for another centre). But it pays more, I can live at home and have nice food, I can get more experience in the field I want to have a career in, so the benefits outweigh the costs. It's not that far away from the centre, so I can still pop down to say hello, seeing as though I would be working normal hours once again!

So, yes, not many more sessions and I am gone!