Realisation

Inspirations and perspective come from the strangest of places. In this case, I guess I can blame the TV show Man V Food (who doesn't love watching Adam Richman stuffing his face with a giant burger?!).

The other day, me and a housemate got talking about travelling around America to sample all the amazing foods and it ended in a serious conversation about where we would go, how we would do it and expenses etc. I've always wanted to travel and have wondered when I would get around to it. After a bit of googling, we discovered it could cost about £5,000 for 6 months in the states which will take a lot of saving up! Not to mention getting 6 months off of work.

I already have some tentative travel plans for the future as well, and the list of places I want to visit is endless. It was this conversation that started off my thought process (no "You? Thinking?!" jokes please). It hit me, that I'm only 21 and I have a good fifty years until retiring age, atleast (fingers crossed). I don't have to become a Paramedic anytime soon.

Don't get me wrong, it is my lifes ambition to join the NHS ambulance service but maybe I would benefit from taking my time to get there. It's not an easy decision to make and I'm going to have to think about it a lot, but after weighing up my options it seems that maybe I should get a job and save up to travel. It would mean I don't have to take huge amounts of time off while working as a Paramedic, but I can gain some kind of clinical experience and do voluntary work instead. The way I see it is I have one of two directions to choose. A lot of people say things like 'better people take the harder, less travelled path' but I think this is more of a case of enjoyment. I'm not really sure.

Anyway, I could ramble on for a long time with my thoughts going in circles. I think you get the picture and I really have a lot of thinking to do. I guess what I can take from this for the immediate future is that I have plenty of time and I should just slow down.

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I also watched the BBC 999 Awards last week. I have to say, it was really good to see that the emergency services are getting some sort of public recognition for the incredible jobs they all do. I also couldn't help noticing that they all mentioned teamwork as a huge part of what they do, and they couldn't have done it without their crewmates. I think it just goes to show what sort of people do these life saving jobs. Incredibly selfless and humble, all they care about is helping people and doing their job well.

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I hope this didn't sound too jumbled, I wrote this a while ago. I didn't want to change any of it because it kind of captures my confusion and thought process at the time, while it was fresh.

Finally, my exams are over and done with and I am all moved in! The latter went well, and I am not sure about the first. I guess we'll see soon.

I am off to a family gathering tomorrow night and I hope you all have a great weekend! Catch you next week.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Just a quick note to say that there won't be any blog post this week, or until late next week. I'm currently in full revision mode (basically wishing I was elsewhere and trying to find ANYTHING possible to distract me, even for 30 seconds). I'm also moving house on Sunday so I'm spending my evenings packing all my junk into boxes (there is A LOT).

Have a good weekend!

P.S. When I get a spare moment, I am going to make/find a new layout because the amount of blue is quite disgusting.

Pulled my Act Together

Just a (potentially) short entry tonight as a sort of update on my last blog post.

I was feeling a bit miserable and sorry for myself when I wrote on Tuesday (was it Tuesday? This week seems to have dragged), but I have managed to pick myself up and I'm feeling much more positive. I've been keeping myself busy as much as possible, applying for jobs with avengance and sorting myself out.

I've found a Job in the NHS that I would love to do if I don't get my Student Paramedic placement and I'm midway through the application form at the moment. If I were to get it, I would become a Medical Emergency Dispatcher for the South West Ambulance Service. Although only for a year long contract, this would give me a real insight into the inner workings of the elusive Ambulance Service. However, this would mean actually answering the phone for a change - something I don't particularly like doing (who does?!).

Although I haven't ventured out far this week, I've been really getting into the Olympics! Some of you will realise this is quite strange behaviour as watching most sport is beyond me, but I've been caught shouting at the TV in some quite intense races.

I'm going to attend an information session for the Samaritans on Monday evening, something I've always considered doing but never got around to. No time like the present!

My room is now semi-tidy, ready to start packing up as I move into my new house two weeks on Sunday! I have to say, I'm really looking forward to it. It's so much nicer than the student house I currently live in. It has a nice kitchen with a dishwasher - pure luxury! The windows also act like windows in that they keep the wind out (even as I type this, my curtains are flapping about thanks to the gaping hole). The bathroom isn't mouldy and has ventilation. The list really is endless.

My exams are two weeks on Monday so I'm gonna really start to knuckle down - I think I'll be using the uni library every day as of Sunday. Be under no illusion, that really is dedication for you. Spending any more than 10 minutes in that silent, musty sauna is enough to send anyone crazy (I should know, I've spent many days and nights going delerious in that place with only the vending machine to keep me company).

Finally, I think I'm going to sell my Reading Festival ticket. I was really looking forward to going, but no longer have the money to get there and pay for everything else that weekend. I'm a bit worried it won't go as the official tickets haven't even sold out yet. I'm still hoping to maybe get a day ticket for the Saturday as my housemate is going too - I really want to see Young Guns and Florence + The Machine and The Vaccines.

Reading back over this post I've realised it just sounds like a diary! Although this blog is mainly for my benefit, I'm not sure people want to read about how I watched the Olympics and tidied my room. I will have to try and come up with something a bit more relevant next week but I have realised just how much of a long, slow process reaching my goal might really be. Luckily, time is on my side (for now).