FIRST YEAR IS OVER!! How is it that I am no longer a fresher and I am 1/3 of my way to being a fully qualified OT?? How is it that I have spent the past 9 months away from home?? WHERE HAS THIS YEAR GONE TO??
Firstly, before I go any further may I warn you of the many photos and thought that may be placed on this blog post. It has been a very busy, but truly spectacular last few months in the 'Diff!! So don't say I didn't warn you about the length!!
I am sitting here in my living room in little Annalong reflecting not only on these past few months but on the past 9 months, the lessons I have learned, the friends I have made, the adventures I have been on and the struggles I have endured!! God has been so good to me, and I am so undeserving!! I am more thankful to him than I can ever express in words on this blog but I think especially over this past week as I have been experiencing some Cardiff withdrawals I have realised how much of the little things I have taken for granted this year and just how much God has provided for me in my favouriest city ever!!
These last 2 months in Cardiff were full of lots of laughter, love and some tears! There were ups, there were downs but all in all I had a splendid time. I think over these months God has been challenging me about the sin that is so evident in my life. Some of the downs I have experienced have caused me to see that there are areas in my life which I still need to give over to God and ask him to help me change and become more like him. While this has not been easy, it has been totally worth it and I am excited to walk with God this summer and really draw closer to him, giving him complete control over these areas of my life.
I TURNED 19 IN MAY!! And to be honest, on the 26th of May (the day before my birthday) I started to get quite homesick as I realised this would be the first birthday I celebrated away from my mum and dad (yip, I did just say that... Non judgement here folks, I love my mama and papa bears!) But on my actual birthday I have never felt more loved in all my life. From posts on Facebook, to text messages, to phone calls, to cards and presents I was spoilt beyond belief and treated like a total princess. God has totally blessed me with so many beautiful friends both in NI and in the beautiful city that is Cardiff. This time last year I was unsure of where I would be going in September and not knowing of the people that would be placed in my life and fast forward a year I am being wished happy birthday from lots of people that I could not imagine my life without! THANK YOU, to all of you reading this who call me a friend! You will never know how much you all mean to me! I am beyond grateful for the friends I have from school, who still stay in contact with me and for friends in Cardiff who have taken me in and let me get to know them and love them this past year! You are all top class!!
I'm not going to lie, I was very excited to get home for summer! My mum and dad came and visited for a week and I got to show them around my city and spend quality time with them but I was buzzin' to get home and see my home friends and just CHILLAX!!! But then when it actually came to leaving Cardiff I became quite emotional!! A big part of my heart remains in that city and with all the people I have met over this past year!! Thank you all. Thank you God.
Here are some MANY photos to highlight some fantastic moments over the past two months:
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| Evening walks in Roath Park have been one of my favourite things in Cardiff |
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| Walks with my house girlies! |
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| I GET TO LIVE WITH THESE BEAUTIES (+Jess) |
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| A trip to Penarth and coffee with these two was truly delightful! |
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| Surprised my Jamesy boy!! |
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| Spontaneous trips home to see bae are always the best thing!! |
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| Surprising Laura was also fun... |
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| ...And led to some pretty walks in the countryside! |
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| THE MAIN EVENT... TO SURPRISE THIS BOYO AFTER HIM BEING AWAY FOR 6 MOTNHS!! |
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| 4/6ths of the Gordon clan reunited!! |
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| Treating myself to an icecream after completing one week of placement!! |
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| Much love for my Monthermer Road girls!! |
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| Sunny Sundays with Anna are fabulous!! |
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| Shoutout to the Trams for a lovely dinner and fabulous company!! |
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| A visit from Ellen Woods is always welcome!! |
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| Did you know it rains in Wales? |
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| Happy Birthday to me! (Shoutout to 41 for the most fabulous cake!) |
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| 19 and sophisticated... |
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| Birthday bash with this girlie was a great idea! |
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| So thankful for each of these girls!! |
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| My OT buddie, my Irish sister... This girl has been beyond fab this year!! |
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| Sazz came down to Cardiff just for my birthday! |
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| Standard Coffee Barker stop! |
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| Bowling party for my birthday... And I lost! But these people made me feel super special! |
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| So much ice cream!! |
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| Shoutout to my favourite midwife!! |
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| Rowboats on Roath lake was a great idea!! #sunnySundays |
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| My favourite ginger in Cardiff!! |
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| Sunsets in Cardiff are beautiful!! |
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| A final brunch in Cocos with this beaut! |
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| Trips with these two always include selfies and lots of LOLZ! |
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| How beaut are my Physio gals?? |
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| We are the best wanna be house mates! Love my Meinir!! |
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| CU beach trip with these crazy gals... and the ones below!! |
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| Have to get ice cream at the beach!!! |
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| Meet my mermaid Lise. |
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| Farewell breakfast for our Meinir!! |
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| Sunny Sundays mean making daisy chains for your hair! |
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| Beaut day in Bute park! |
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| I SURVIVED HALLS!! |
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| Goodbye House 15... |
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| Goodbye Cartwright! |
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| Last Nexus with these legends! |
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| My prayer buddy, my go to OT... She's great! |
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| My favourite story teller! |
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| HIghfields Student weekend away... |
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| Won da Bake off didn't I! |
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| Photo taken after 10 miles of canoeing... #wewerefakingsmiles |
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| 41 accepted me into their house... And this ended in crazy nights like this |
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| My favourite Sass Queen! |
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| I FINISHED MY SECOND PLACEMENT... AND I PASSED!! |
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| These two have got me through numerous lectures and they make me laugh a lot!! |
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| Super duper thankful for this super relay worker!! |
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| Mama bear arrived and we celebrated her existance! |
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| Love these two and so glad I could show them my city! |
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| Gangstas unite! |
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| Our name sake park! |
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| Sunny, yet windy Penarth! |
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| Got to treat Sandra babes to afternoon tea! |
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| Curry and Articulate make for a great night! |
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| Prayer and pudding with some of the church girlies! |
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| My favourite house... These girls adopted me in and allowed me to live with them, I am so grateful for them! |
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| Goodbye Cardiff... |
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| ...Hello Annalong!! |
And if you have made it this far... Give yourself a pat on the back! I hope you have enjoyed my #jemmainwales blogs over these past 9 months and it has been a pleasure to take all of you along this crazy journey with me!! Peace out until September though...
Wrote with love,
Jemma
