How'd you do 2014!

Goodbye 2013! You left as quickly and dramatically as you entered. It has been a breathtaking 12 months both globally and personally.

The events kick starts with Obama being sworn in as President of the free world for a second term. For the first time in 600 years, a living Pope steps down from his papal duties and forces the appointment of another.

Natural disasters ripped across the globe with record-setting storms wrecking havoc. Not to mention pointless deaths caused by mindless fanatics all using politics and religion for the wrong reasons. We also saw the passing of world leaders like Nelson Mandela.

But we also welcomed a future King and saw incredible acts of humanity though the mentioned tragedies.

In our personal lives, our friends got married, welcomed a newborn or two, bought new homes. We traveled the world-went to pastures new. Did something different for the first time. Danced the night away and drank too much, got into rows and quarrels. We tried to keep up with the new year's list but failed dismally and made up excuses to do it 'tomorrow'. Worked far too much and moaned about it on Twitter and Facebook. Missed a few functions, wished you had done something else. Definitely spent too much money on gadgets, clothes and shoes!

But you know what 2013? Through everything, I'd like to say 'THANK YOU' I'm still here, I have a fabulous family and an amazing bunch of friends. I've made so many new friends along the way. I've moaned and cried and laughed all the same. You were not brilliant but you were sufficient to see me through to 2014.

As a good friend said to me once, the 'world's my lobster'. Beyond bright horizon across the beautiful blue sea, the opportunities are endless.

So 2014 let's see what you got installed for us. I'm looking forward it all! Bring it on..

Daddy's little girl..

Father's Day 2011. The pillar of any family, after the mother (of course!) The man, you'd first run to when you needed to feel safe and know you'd be protected from any harm. Growing up he was my disciplinarian, in my formative years he was my best mate, in my young adulthood he's....gone!

I chose a very different life to that of my entire family, I chose to live half way across the world. Not because we didn't get along, in fact it was the opposite- we actually were a regular working/middle class family. My parents worked hard to put my brother and I through good schools and we were brought up right. But because I was and still am a very ambitious individual and I knew what I wanted from a young age, I decided to move to England and pursue those aspirations and I've worked very hard to achieve them. My papa, let go of his little girl and supported me in my decision to do what I wanted. He was proud, he told all his friends, with his head held high, "my daughter is a Journalist".

Like any family we've had our ups and downs, but we never lost sight of what was important in life- family, good heart, good work ethic, sense of fun and humour!
It has been nearly 2 years, but I still find it so hard to come to terms with it all. No more birthday cards, one less name on the Christmas card and, today, no more phone call to wish him a 'Happy Father's Day'

This is a picture of me, with my papa's sunglasses, and guitar. It's my one of favourite. Not only was it taken by my papa, it shows our sense of fun as a family, it shows what we enjoyed to do. We had fun, we had sad moments, angry tiffs, but we still loved each other.
He worked hard (2 jobs, 7 days a week) so that we could have a decent standard of living. Growing up in Singapore was great; it is a different perpective, a different way of life, a life for a child was so much fun in the sun, sand and sea.  My papa was full of wise words, he was the coolest, not always able to control his temper, but he was only human. I'm a lot like him, not so much the anger bit, but personality- I'm daddy's little girl. he thought me boxing, he encouraged me to be a footballer, a runner and all round sporty chic and never to deter from my academic pursuits and be a decent person to everyone around me.
I miss him.
But I'm also very lucky to have an adopted dad (he's my guardian, to dispel confusion) A friend of the family, someone I've always considered as a second dad.
I'm very lucky, the family I was born into are amazing and the family I have adopted are equally marvellous. I never loose sight of what I want, what my parents- all three of them, aspire me to be. I'm blessed and loved!

Work has never been this much fun....!!

There are those people who pick a career because their parents are from the same line of profession, so it's what they know. There are those who go for certain jobs because of the money they could earn before they reach 35 and retire by 36. And then there are there are those who do what they do because they absolutely bloody love the job but earn peanuts or even less.

I belong to the last group of people. A newly qualified journalist, I take what ever media or writing opportunity comes along. I'm grateful to have such lovely friends who help me along the way. This time it was no different, thanks to a sweet friend of mine, I got contact details to help out at a music festival down in Dorset- Camp Bestival.

A family friendly festival, packed full of fun stuff to do and to top it all of you have superb musicians playing live music. "Cheer! Hands in the air!", swarms of people dancing, screaming, jumping up and down, the music coming through the speakers are so loud they make the ground vibrate.

80's Pop Band, Madness

Lulworth  Castle was a great setting for this festival. Not very many cater for children to enjoy camping, this was perfect. It was a great excuse for adults to act like kids and all at times after a few pints no doubt. There's nothing like cramming into a tiny tent with two fab mates, zipped up in sleeping bags so as not to freeze in the night air drifting and laying on solid, at times slushy wet muddy ground in a middle of no where.

No amount of money could buy that experience, unless of course if you had to pay for being at a festival. We lived on rations of bread, home-made sandwiches, some fruit, biscuits and water for three or so days, hadn't had much of a wash, true campers we were, baby wipes and deo for B-O.

With our all access passes we were roaming around the site after our shifts at the box offices, meeting and seeing new people. Most were dressed up in fancy costumes, there were many tents showcasing different shows and exhibits. From Skateboarding to Zippos Circus, book readings to dancing to DJ mixes. The walk around the site itself hurt every muscle in body, such a trek across each attraction and the longest route was always at the end of all the fun and dancing back to our tent, on the other side of the plot of land, in the dark.

I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, I had a good time chatting to a couple of fellow journalists, working along side very funny, witty folks from Manchester and just random people at the event. The meeting of random people started from the moment I got to the Wareham train station.

A shuttle bus was meant to pick festival-goers and take us to the main gate of the event. There were several of us at the station waiting, no sign of a bus. A lady, don't know her name, asked a cab driver standing outside, he was no help but offered to take all 6 of us for the same price as the bus would have cost us. A fair deal, we piled into the taxi and off we went. 

For the next three days, there was not only work, but a hell of alot of dancing, feeling hungry, thirsty and tired. But oh-so much fun.