A perfect Sunday

7pm- Good evening everyone!  I have had a lovely weekend. First of all, yesterday morning was the last in this block of training sessions for Dysparity. We met parents of children with various learning difficulties and talked to them about their children, their lives and how they help their children. It was a very educational but also very enjoyable session. I think that this will be my most important commitment at AC- it is incredibly worthwhile and I just hope I can help as much as possible.
    After that I went to Cardiff with my 2 dorm mates. My Sikh dormie took us to the temple and it was a wonderful experience. It was so peaceful, with only us there. We were made to feel so welcome and were given food and tea by a Sikh lady. She was not confident speaking English but it did not matter. She spoke Hindi to my friend and it just proved, to the two of us who couldn't understand Hindi, that language is not essential to understand or communicate with someone.  Words were not necessary for her to welcome us and make us feel comfortable. It was a beautiful experience that I will always remember.
       After visiting the temple we strolled around Cardiff in the sunshine. We went to the library, some shops and enjoyed the sun and being out in the big wide world. In the evening we had a great meal and I used chopsticks! At first I thought I may have to remain hungry but I eventually got the hang of it and have photos as proof! We decided that the most amazing thing was probably all the people we met and chatted to during the day. Everyone - the lady in the temple, guards outside the castle, a preacher in the street and our waiter in the restaurant were all so interesting and kind. I have decided that I just love people!
      Today has been an ideal way to finish the weekend too. I got up at 8am and went to the gym with my Danish dormie. I cycled and rowed and it was a brilliant start to the day. We then went to brunch and did some work after that. This afternoon I went to the new netball activity and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great group of girls and we had fun despite deciding that we were neither amazing or fit! We plan to do it every Sunday afternoon. I hope it works out as I had so much fun.
   Well really have to work now. I must go back to PK and finish my Econ coursework and E Systems practical before house meeting at 9pm. Night all.

End of the week

8.15am- Morning everyone. I am very happy as it is Friday today, which means that it is the weekend tomorrow. I had a lovely night last night. I did quite a bit of work for my Dysparity project and some other pieces of homework. After that I had a fascinating chat with some of my friends about the history of India/ Pakistan and the whole Middle-East. It is amazing to talk to international people about issues like this- there was an Indian, a Danish person, a Dutch person and me. After that serious and very interesting conversation/discussion my dorm became very hyper. The next couple of hours were filled with laughter, singing, jokes and funny tricks. It was a great way to end the day, although I now feel quite tired!
    I have first code free and then I have Double Econ. We do not have any language lessons today (due to training) and so I don't have English. I then have to finish the practical in E Systems (walking along lanes once again) and then it will be early lunch. During the break I am showing around some visitors with one of my co-years. I do not have French and so then I only have History and Maths to finish off the day. This evening we are cooking as a dorm, which will be lovely. Tomorrow is the final Dysparity training session- we will meet some parents and discuss their experiences. After that I may be going to the Sikh temple in Cardiff, we'll see. Whatever happens, I know it is going to be a great weekend- the last one before Spring break! Love to all.

A good day

11.15am- Hello everyone. I love Thursdays! I had History first code and then double English. It is now Econ code and we are free to work on coursework. I do not have anymore codes today, that's why I love Thursdays. I am going to do a bit of work and then have early lunch. I might go to Llantwit to get some shopping this afternoon, it depends how much work I get done. The second years started their mock exams today. I have never seen so many people at breakfast!  We do not have open house today, in order for us to work etc. I think I will even do some flute practice for some relaxation this evening. Am going to go and work on 250 words for French. I have a 150 so far.....  Love to all.

Wet Wednesday

9.30am- Morning everyone. I am just having a break in the library before my TOK class. I had Maths this morning, which was good as I now understand the homework! Yesterday was a good day. First thing in the morning we did our third E Systems practical in 2 weeks. We were driven to a main road a couple of miles from college and had to assess the impact of widening the road as we walked back to college. It was actually quite nice to get a walk in the countryside. I then had normal codes before service in the afternoon. We went to the residential homes and I enjoyed it as usual. I had flute lesson and ensemble in the afternoon. There was no Gateways club last night but I was still busy all night. I went to a concert given by the college choir (which I really enjoyed), had a Maths Tutorial and then had a tutor group meal in my tutours' house. It was really nice to be in someone's house and have some good food. I have English, French and E Systems after break and then I have the afternoon off to work. I have quite a bit to do but luckily I have some time. The second year mock exams start tomorrow and so they are all very busy. Have to go out and brave the rain now. Love to all.

Monday Mornings..

11.45am- Hello everyone. Well I had a lovely weekend and now I am ready for what will be a busy week. On Saturday I ended up going to Cardiff with my dorm mate and we shopped a little but ate a lot! I visited my family on Sunday and had a lovely day with them. Last night was the Scandanavian National Evening, which was interesting but also very entertaining. I then did a little work before and after house meeting. Then at 4am this morning the First Years were woken up by the Second Years for the year book photo. But they didn't just wake us up and take a photo, they took us outside and threw water on us! I seemed to still be asleep as I got very wet- I ran away from one bucket of water straight into another! Most people were sensible and ran towards the door!  It was cold and wet and now we are all very tired. It was actually quite fun however! On a sad note, it made us realise that are second years really are getting ready to leave. We will miss them all. Must go to lunch then TOK. Service has been cancelled as my lady is unwell. We have tutorials with tutors tonight too. Love to all.

End of another week

9.15am- Morning everyone. I am really happy today as it is Friday. Although we have a long day of codes, I always seem to enjoy it. I have just had breakfast and have first code free now. I have Econ in about 50 minutes. After break I have English, French and E Systems. I have a practical to hand in for E Systems but as I was ill I have been given an extension. After early lunch, I have French, History and Maths.I have not had a French lesson in over a week due to my teacher and then me being ill.
      Last night we had a talk on application to US and Canadian universities. I am not considering applying abroad but I thought I should go to learn a bit more about what options are out there. It was very interesting and I will now understand the process many of my friends will be going through over the next year or so.
    Tonight we are having a relaxed night in as I have to get up for Dysparity in the morning. It is our second session and I am very excited. I am going back home on Sunday to see my family, which will be really good. Love to everyone. Have a good weekend.

Brief hello

9.20pm- Hello everyone. Must be very very quick. I have had good day back at codes today. I feel completely better, which is great! I have open house and so I must go soon. We are having pizza, tortillas and juice. I don't want to miss it!  After codes I did some work and then actually did some flute practice. It's Friday tomorrow! I'm so excited for the weekend it!! Night.

Alive once again!

7.15pm- Hello everyone. Well, I am finally feeling much better after my allergic reaction. Having never even been on sick list, I spent yesterday in sick bay and then today on sick list. I am feeling much better now, although I do still have pink panda eyes!  I have basically slept for two days, and I think my body really needed the rest. It means I have missed two days of codes, although by the sound of it I haven't missed too much. I have read a little but my eyes haven't really felt like working. I am glad to be going back to codes tomorrow- I feel so out of touch with college life! I went to the dining hall for the first time in two days just now and it felt so good!
    A lot has happened in the past two days. Yesterday there were some quite dangerous incidents during service in the sea, and students had to have medical treatment. I am not sure of the exact details but I know some people have nasty injuries. We live in a beautiful spot but we have to be aware of the dangers of the sea.  Also, one of my co-years is leaving college today. It is always sad when people decide to go but nobody should stay here if is not right for them. Therefore, all in all, this week has not been my greatest week in AC. However the people and the place always manage to cheer me up and remind me how lucky I am, no matter how bad things can seem.
     Tonight I will do a bit of work and then at 9pm there is a theatre performance outside on top lawn by one of my second-years. I am really excited as I've heard it is amazing. Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully I will be feeling almost back to normal by then. Lots of love to you all.

Photos!

11.50am- As promised, here are a couple of photos I took on my walk around campus on Saturday. It really did feel like Spring before the rain came.....

 Looking at the blue sky through beautiful blossom (which also had a lovely scent!)

 Snowdrops on the terrace

 I love snowdrops!

 Looking over the Beast Garden at the castle

I am standing in the tree! (well the shadow at least!)

I hope these photos give you a taste of this beautiful place. I have had/am having a busy day. In short: I got up late, rushed breakfast, had English, delivered flowers for Valentines Day for Made in 48, was late for Econ (did badly in the test), had History and I now have lunch before TOK. I have service after that and when I come back from service I have a fundraiser for Made in 48. I also have an E systems practical to finish and my eyes are aching from a mild allergic reaction. Wow! But I am surviving! I just found out I can do my EE in History!! Today is not a bad day after all..... Love to everyone.

Spring! (but only for a day)

1.20pm- Hello everyone. Yesterday was a lovely sunny day and it really seemed as though Spring had arrived. However today is wet and grey and so I guess we are still in Winter after all.  I made the most of the sun however. I went for a lovely walk around campus and I will put a couple of photos that I took on here in a minute. Yesterday morning I had my first training session with Dysparity. It was so good. I am really excited about the project and really hope that I will be able to take part as planned. We discussed learning difficulties, Special Needs and life for those who have these conditions and also the lives of those around them. We also looked at the work of Educational Psychologists, which was very interesting. We have the second session next Saturday.      Last night I had a lovely night cooking, eating, chatting, laughing and eating even more! I had cake (which we managed to burn!), Malaysian jam and Kazakh bread. I think I ate too much but I have to take advantage of this opportunity to taste different cultures!
    This morning we woke up early and so whilst my dorm mates went to the gym (they had lots of energy!) I had a shower and then read. It was the perfect Sunday morning before Brunch. I have to work soon. I have an E Systems practical to write up, must call some family and friends and then go to the Central European National Evening tonight. I love Sundays at AC!
    Okay, my photos don't seem to want to come up on here so I will try again later. Love to everyone.

Busy Thursday

11.55am-Yes, I think today may be my busiest day of the week. This morning I had History first lesson. I then finally did my English oral presentation during double English. I think it went okay- my teacher said she liked it and so that is a good sign (hopefully!).  I have just had Econ. and we did some revision for a test tomorrow. I don't have any more codes now and so I have early lunch. I have a flute lesson this afternoon and then I have Ensemble, followed by an information event on Extended Essays. To finish off I have my Made in 48 activity tonight. I enjoy all of what I have to do but it will be tiring.
    Am going to go and have early lunch now.

Good morning!

9.25am- Hello everyone. It is a lovely sunny morning here today and I just went for a walk through the gardens after first code. I had Maths but as my teacher was ill we just did some excercises. I love the gardens here at AC, it is so peaceful and it's wonderful to hear the birds. I just realised how much I did that at home, and how I don't really notice them here. The view of the sea and accross the channel is always magical in the mornings too.
    Yesterday I had my two service sessions, and I enjoyed both of them. The lady that two of us visit at a residential home always amazes us as she is nearly 100 and still full of energy. I notice that she has deteriorated slightly in the time I have been seeing her but it is still a privilege to talk to her. It makes me think about life, longevity and our attitudes towards it. She is very determined and I think that we can all learn a lot from that.  Last night at Gateways I did some of my usual colouring and chatting and was even given a Valentines Day card. I love the positive atmosphere that the club creates, and seeing how that reflects on and helps people is fantastic.  Our dorm had quite an early night last night. We went to bed after having salmon on toast- so good!!
      I no longer have my double free code on Wednesdays as TOK now takes up third code. I'm enjoying TOK so far. I like thinking about knowledge, perception etc. Should go soon so that I am not late.
   One last thing- I heard this morning that the Guardian's Russia correspondent has been expelled from the country. I read Luke Harding's work before I even came to AC and now I know that he came here too. The work he has done as a journalist around the world truly is impressive.  I was sad to read that Russia continues to deny freedom of expression and freedom of the press. To hear of such a situation is always very disheartening but the AC link somehow made this even more real and saddening. I'm sure he will continue to be a fantastic journalist wherever he is based however.
Really must go now!

Sleepy Sunday

12.45pm- Good afternoon everyone! I am having the most relaxing weekend ever.  Yesterday I did a little work and then watched movies, chatted and generally had a nice time. This morning we got up rather late once again but I think we all need our sleep to make sure that we don't catch/make worse the virus. I think most people are now over the worst of it and so things are looking healthier for next week.  I have just come back from Brunch and am going to work soon. My Ultimate Frisbee activity has been cancelled and so I do not have anything else planned for this afternoon. I think I will do some flute practice as a break from work later. The South East Asia National Evening is tonight and so I will go to that too. Lots of love to you all from a very windy castle by the sea!

Saturday

4.50pm- Good afternoon everyone! I have had a relaxing day today. Yesterday was a very strange day as I only had around 4 codes. I had quadruple free in the morning, thanks to the number of people on sick list. I was tempted to go on sick list yesterday morning as I had a horrible sore throat and eyes. However, after all the free time I felt better. After a rest I actually went to watch the rugby at a local pub. Yes, Wales lost but it was still nice to be out and about, doing something that I always did at home.
     Our dorm didn't get up until around 11am this morning and so I did a little work before lunch. I have also worked since lunch and am looking forward to supper. I actually think I may have escaped the worst of this virus but I am still eating lots of fruit, drinking water etc. The nurse came around this morning and took a swab from my dorm mate as they are trying to identify this mystery but horrible virus.
   Well am going to go now. We are planning on watching a film tonight as part of a nice chilled weekend.
   Love to everyone.

Hanging in there...

11.15am- Good morning from a lovely sunny day at AC. I am sitting in the library with the sun shining in through the window and looking at the beautiful blue sea outside. Today has been a strange day. I have only had one code.Yesterday I began feeling a little unwell and tired. I slept from lunch until just before supper. It definitely helped as I felt better afterwards. My poor dorm mate and many other people in my house are quite ill. Whole dorms have been struck down with this virus and the medical centre is having to move ill people out to make way for people are even worse. At times like this, it is a shame that AC is such a close community!
      As I said, I have only had one lesson today- History first thing this morning. My English teacher is on a scheduled trip away and my Economics teacher is unwell. I have spent the morning reading and relaxing in the library as I think I am safer here that in a germ-infested house! Even my house parent was unable to do Check-in last night as she is unwell in bed. Last night the vote for the Chair and Secretary of the Student Council was held. We had to rank the candidates in our order of preference. I only voted for 3 candidates for Chair and three for Secretary. I believe that any of those six would be great in their respective positions. We will be given the results in assembly on Monday. 
    Am currently researching about a possible Extended Essay topic. Very interesting. Love to everyone. Hope all is well with you.

Surviving the virus!

9.30am- Hello everyone. As the heading suggests, lots of students are quite ill at the moment. A third of the college were on sick list yesterday (where you are allowed to miss lessons). The medical centre has run out of beds and so people who would normally be in sick bay are still in the houses. So far I have escaped with only a sore throat and a general feeling of tiredness. I am drinking lots of water, eating lots of fruit and trying to get my sleep. Cross fingers that it will work!
     Last night I went to Gateway club, which was uplifting and enjoyable as always. I had Maths this morning and I have ToK next. I no longer have my double free on a Wednesday!  Must go. Love to all.

In a rush once again...

10.30am- Hello all. Must be quick yet again. It is break at the moment and so I have just had coffee to help me with my sore throat. The number of ill people on campus is unbelievable!  Damp, cold weather and tiredness is not a good combination.  I am not feeling too bad- just slightly tired.  Yesterday was a good day. I had my first Theory of Knowledge lesson and I realised that I am going to enjoy the course. We discussed perception, knowledge and reason. I have my second lesson tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. I had my service session after codes. We went to visit the elderly lady in Llantwit and it was very nice. Last night the nominees for Secretary and Chair of the Student Council gave speeches in the Bradenstoke Hall. It was very interesting and all candidates were of a very high standard. I have already decided who I am going to vote for when we vote later this week.  We then spent last night after check-in relaxing, chatting and working as a dorm. It was very nice to be in the warm after a long day!
     This morning we had to go to the graveyard to complete an E Systems practical. It was quite cold but I had wrapped up nice and warm and so it was not too bad. I just had double History and I have to give my Extended Essay topic some more consideration. I really want to do it in History- I just have to clarify my subject so that it will be accepted.
     Must go now. I have Econ, then French and Maths. I have service this afternoon- visiting residential homes, which I love. I also have Gateways club this evening. That is always a highlight of my week. Love to everyone.