Nil points...but big love

 Bonjour mes amies! I thought it was ripe time for me to update ye olde blog with the latest headlines of my life. Today it is raining. For the first time in a week. An apt illustration of the rivers of tears I long to cry in relief that I have FINALLY done an exam!

Yesiree, I am officially on the map...or timetable as the case might be. A half hour exam which was the academic equivalent of Blind Man's Bluff....a multiple choice English exam!!! I got on the bus this morning and accidentally sat next to my professor for this class...luckily, she didn't have a clue who I was. Secret identity maintained *phew*

Tapas central!!!

Still, it's all over...and I am very happy about finishing it. I deleted all the documents for this module off my computer in a very laissez-faire wa- Long gone. Moved On.

Stupid Loreen...

In other news, my sister Suzanne came to visit for a few days as it is the last time we shall meet. Indefinitely. She is moving to California mid July while I am still in Barcelona so we shall not be at home together again for heck knows how long! It was all very final, seeing her off at the train station, sausage bap in tow. Wherefore art thou, sister friend?

She arrived on Saturday morning, where we indulged in Starbucks frappucinos before returning to the house for a spot of sun bathing. It was reaaaaallllly hot! In the evening, we ordered Chinese takeaway and the five of us watched Eurovision. I was cheering on Jedward because I love them and Roman from Germany because I love Germany too! Alas, Sweden won. I have nothing against Sweden...or even the song...but that Loreen woman dances worse than S Club 7 these days (Have you seen them? They're not in the best shape...)

Sunday we relaxed in the garden for most of the day, stopping for regular ice pop breaks and the odd shopping trip to Booths.

Our next door neighbours here are pretty annoying. The mother yells at her children. All the time. And she sounds like Howard Wallowitz's mother. I never really knew what she actually looked like though, as it was only ever the father who ventured outside. Anyway, thanks to my sister's excellent photography abilities, we now have the visual aid you are all dying to see. So here it is. John and Joleen.

Big Love.

                                                                                     Positioned next to their lovely bench, which I'm almost certain was hand-crafted by John in a wannabe Joseph move with his son, Jay. (Is it a coincidence that both their names begin with J like their predecessor carpenters? I think not...) So, we were all equally delighted and repulsed by this lovely picture so I thought it was necessary for me to share. Someday I hope I look like a fat angry baby and look so in pain when I hug my much smaller husband. Living. The. Dream.

On Monday, we again stayed mainly in the house, although we did go and walk a dog at the animal sanctuary where me and the girls are volunteers. We met Harry. A dog with a bit of a personality. It was more akin to taking a stroll with a friend than walking a dog. He was elegant and polite and never pulled on his lead. It makes a change from my own mentalist of a dog who sometimes hops with a bunny because she cuts off circulation to her back legs by choking herself with a lead.

His Lord, Harry, with Josie and me

On Tuesday, me and Suzanne went into town to watch 'What to Expect When You're Expecting', armed with pick and mix from W H Smith. This was my second time seeing this film. It's probably a bit weird that a young thing like me enjoys films about babies so much but it is genuinely a really funny film, treating things in an honest, interesting and often sad way, with a lovely balance of laughs to tears. After the cinema, we met up with Josie and went out for tapas in the lovely 1725, a favourite spot of ours in town. Such nice food and a really atmospheric location. We got 8 tapas between the three of us and got two of these for free, much to our delight. We washed it all down with delicious Sangria and good conversation.

Me and Suzanne- tigers grrrr!

Me and Suzanne...and Barbie.

As I waved away Suzanne on Wednesday morning, I felt very sad. I walked back to the bus stop in a daze of disbelief. No more friendly chats with my sister in our pjs. No more inside jokes. No more reminiscing. It's a really disturbing period of life to be entering. I know I should be used to it because I've been living away from home for three years but I always knew I'd be returning home for holidays and I'd get to catch up then but now....there's just nothingness. And loneliness.

Being a grown up is going to be really hard.


However, I don't want to finish my blog on a negative point so I'll conclude by saying this.

In 11 days time I will be done with my exams. In 24 days time I will be in Barcelona. Everything is happening from now on. It's important some times that I can just sit back and try and relax. I am glad to still be with my friends for the next 20 days. I am happy I have had the chance to see both my sisters for a final time recently. I am excited for all that is going to happen soon.

Sisters are good. Next door are strange. I have wet hair.

QOTR