Quick update & Thanksgiving!!

It's amazing how time just flies by so fast. I can't believe it's less than 5 weeks until Christmas . . . Craziness!!

Grace and Lisa

Grace and Ali

At the end of September a group of the YSA went camping for the weekend. In true glamping style I went up for the day and met them in Bath, had fun around the bonfire, toasted marshmallows, and went back home to sleep in my own bed when everyone else settled down for the night.

The boys

Treasure Chest Cake
I worked out that I am turning into my mother . . . How you ask!! I recently made this treasure chest cake. The whole time I was making it I kept saying how bad it looked and how unhappy I was with it. As my housemates were reassuring me, I realised that I was turning into what my Mum is like when she bakes cakes . . . We both can't see how amazing the creations are. It's taken me a long time to be happy with how this cake looks . . . Pretty good huh?? 

I absolutely loved the heat wave we had at the beginning of October. For a few days the temperature soared and was around 26 degrees, even hitting 30 in some parts of the UK. As I had already packed away my summer clothes I had to dig them out again, but adored sitting out in the park catching some last summer rays.

Recently I haven't had much bad luck at work. I had almost forgotten what it was like. So we were coming back from Lanzarote last wednesday when the captain called saying we were going to have some trouble getting into Bristol due to fog. Well after holding above Bristol for quite a while we ended up diverting to Birmingham. We were then told that we were leaving the aircraft in Birmingham and catching a taxi to Bristol. We never walk through the terminal in Bristol so as we were walking through birmingham airport it almost felt like I was a 'proper' flight attendant, this image from Catch me if you can popped into my head . . . Is it wrong that I really liked everyone looking at me and feeling so glamorous??

I know thanksgiving isn't until Thursday, but we are all busy on Thursday so we had a few friends round and had our Thanksgiving meal last night instead. I love having people round for dinner. I love everyone all helping to pull a big dinner together, socialising, washing up together, and crashing on the coach afterwards. I loved Thanksgiving while I was in America, I loved having a day where we think about what we are thankful for in the last year . . . I know I don't do it enough. I also love a day where there is Pumpkin Pie. lol. So here are 22 things that I am thankful for this year (In no particular order).

1. A job that I enjoy.
2. My family . . . They are awesome.
3. My housemates and the atmosphere we have in our house.
4. My car . . . Having one die and not having one for a few days made me realise how much I rely on one. 
5. Great friends.
6. Getting a Ryanair contract. 
7. Getting in OU and having BYU credit count.
8. Being financially able to support myself at OU.
9. Not getting the BA and Virgin job . . . The experience of the interviews and applications helped me learn more about myself. 
10. Joe . . . For giving me extra work when I've needed it. 
11. Penicillin. 
12. Living in a country free from war. 
13. Lucas and his many amazing cuddles. 
14. My house . . . I am so lucky to be able to live in this house. 
15. Skype . . . I love skype and the chance it gives me to keep in touch with my American friends. 
16. Ice-cream . . . I love it anyway, but it was one of the only things that could soothe my throat when I had tonsillitis. 
17. The ability to be able to live so close to my family.
18. The ability to be able to jet off to Malta for a couple of days . . . It was very much needed. 
19. My time at BYU . . . For everything it taught me about myself . . . Good and bad.
20. All the spontaneous times spent with my friends. 
21. The many people that have helped us move twice this year. 
22. My beliefs. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The things that Passengers do/say that baffle me.

So you know when you get asked the same thing over and over again?? It gets pretty tedious right?? Recently I've been getting tedious a lot recently... With passengers who ask the same questions over and over and expect a different response, who argue over every little thing you tell them to do for THEIR safety, who ask stupid questions, who treat me as if I'm stupid, who act like children when they can't get their own way, and who moan at the price of a sandwich despite having the price on the menu card which is in their hand and it being their choice to purchase said sandwich.

Here are a few examples:

1) "Ladies and Gentlemen, please ensure all mobile phones are switched completely off prior to take off" Me to passenger who is playing angry birds on his phone: "Sorry sir, can you please turn  your phone off"
Passenger: "It is off"
Me: "I'm sorry sir, but it needs to be switched completely off"
Passenger: "It is off ... I turned it onto flight mode"
Me: "I'm sorry sir, but turning it onto flight mode is not the same as turning it off. All electronic devices must be off for take off. Once we are in the cruise you may have your phone on in flight mode"
Passenger: This phone does not turn off"
Me (Now at the end off all patience I had): "Would you like me to teach you how to turn your phone off??"

2) After trying to open a locked toilet door for the past couple of minutes a passenger turns to me. "Is the toilet open?" You would of thought that he would of figured out by then that the toilet was not open.

3) Another thing that baffles me .... Grown men/women who don't flush the toilet. Would you flush the toilet at home?? Yes you would. I had 4 people in a row use the same toilet and not one of them flushed it. How did all of them not think that was disgusting?? If we are stood in the galley, we can hear what goes on in the toilet. Which means that we hear if you do not flush or not wash your hands ...

4) Passenger: "How much is a coffee?"
Me: "€3.00 or £2.80"
Passenger: "How much is a coffee?"
Me: "€3.00 or £2.80"
Passenger: "Do you accept sterling?"
Me: "Yes sir ... A coffee is 2.80 in sterling"

5) So when we have under a certain amount of passengers, we have to block off some rows. These rows must remain empty for the duration of the flight for weight and balance.

A passenger boards the aircraft and asks where he can sit.
Me: "You can sit anywhere except for rows 3 and 4 sir.
Passenger reaches row 3: "Can I sit here?"
Me: "No sir, it is blocked off today"
Passenger: "Who is going to be sitting there?"
Me: "Nobody sir, it has to remain empty for the whole flight"
Later on during the flight said passenger was sat in row 3.
Me: "Sorry sir, but these rows need to remain empty for the whole flight. I did explain this during the boarding. Can you please return to your original seat."
Passenger: "I'm not sat here, I'm just sat enjoying the view"
Me: "I'm sorry sir, but you can not even be sat here enjoying the view, please return to your original seat"
Passenger: "No, and you haven't even told me why I can't sit here"
Me (Now getting tedious): "Sir, it is for weight and balance. Please return to your original seat"
Passenger: "Are you calling me heavy?"
Passenger returns to seat.
Passenger on disembarking.
Me: "Thank-you, have a good night!"
Passenger: "In future do not tell me off, I will sit where I want to sit"
Captain: "In future do what the cabin crew tell you to do, and stop acting like a child. She is in charge of the cabin and in future if you do not do as your told she can get you arrested"

Things would be so much nicer if passengers didn't argue. We honestly don't say these things because we want to play a prank. It doesn't benefit us to have the rows blocked off because it slows down boarding and means we have to answer the same question over and over.

6) Seat belt sign turns on for turbulence. PA made telling passengers to remain seated and that using the toilet is not allowed
Passenger gets up to use the toilet.
Me: "Sorry sir, you need to remain seated, the seat belt sign is currently on"
Passenger: "I need to use the toilet"
Me: "Yes sir, but the seat belt sign is on. We are going through turbulence and you can not  use the toilet at this time"
Passenger: "I'll just wait here until the turbulence is over then"
Me: "No sir, You need to remain seated with your seat belt on"


These are English passengers who clearly understand what you're saying.

Sometimes you just can't resist to play a prank on them .... After all, even we get tired of saying the same response. Here are some of my favourites.

7) Passenger: "How much is it to use the toilet?"
Me: "€1 for a number 1, €2 for a number 2, and 5 cents for each piece of toiler roll you use"

8) Passenger after looking for the toilet by trying to open the flight deck door, looking all over the galley, trying to open the toilet door, and even opening up a really small compartment which is near the ceiling.
Passenger: "Where is the toilet?"
Me (pointing to the exit door which they came in through): "Go out that door, down the stairs, take a right, and it's right in front of you"

9) Passenger: "Which toilet is the ladies?"
Me: "The one your husband just went into, I'd be worried if I were you. Especially because there was another women in there too .... They are unisex toilets mam."

10) Handing over a credit card slip for a passenger to sign.
Passenger: "Do I not have to enter my pin number?"
Me: "Oh yes sorry, if you can just put your pin number on the dotted line as well"

Would you believe there are passengers who fall for these???

I also saw a great article online. It was a letter written by a cabin crew to the public. I thought it was great. How many times a day do I apologize for things that I can't control?? Letter to the public

Enjoy!!

Victoria Park

I absolutely LOVE living in Victoria Park for all the reasons that I stated in my last post. I adore being right near the City Centre whilst feeling like I'm not. And I love the fact that me, Grace, and Rach have found a new house just one street away. Yep, whilst we're not going to have the gorgeous view of the park anymore we are moving to the street behind us. I love the new house too. It's like our house ... Just slightly smaller and without the attic room.

So after talking to my Dad I decided to go ahead and register for my module for OU. Hopefully things will just start working out for me. I didn't feel right to put it off for another year. Time to get back into the studying routine again!!

As I was starting to go through all my stuff to pack last night, clearing out junk and starting to pack, I came across a bunch of photos from when I was just leaving BYU. Amongst those photos I came across one I took of the view from my bedroom window. I had forgotten how gorgeous it was, and how much I loved being able to see the Y from my room (sorry it's a bit hazy, it's from the screen in the window).

Since I was so bad at updating before, I never put pictures up of the house we're living in now ... Enjoy!!

Dining Room

The house

Kitchen

Kitchen/Diner

The Garden

Lounge

The View

Massive update time.

I couldn't believe that I haven't updated since February, I'm clearly as rubbish at updating my blog as I am at doing DIY (Yes, I am unsure how that analogy came about too!!).

Well in March, me, Grace, and Rachel all moved into THE most gorgeous house. It literally ticked all the boxes. It's perfect. Lovely large Victorian house overlooking the park, with a large lounge, dining room, Kitchen diner, and 4  bedrooms (mine is the huge attic room). It's amazing. I love how it has also become a massive YSA hub, everyone just invites themselves round, and socialize here. It's great!! I love coming home from work at midnight to a house full of YSA. I have also loved being able to just cross the road and be in the park, amazing on really sunny days and perfect for chilling out with a good book. The downside to the house being that the landlord has sold it, and we move out in approximately 3 weeks. . . We have yet to find another house as nothing meets our standards/will fit all our furniture. . . Me thinks we've been spoilt.

In April I went on holiday with Mum and Dad to the house in France which was amazing. It was nice to get away and just relax and the weather was perfect . . . Between 22 and 25 everyday. We went canoeing where I almost killed Dad on the rapids with my canoe, went to the ice-cream place on the quay, and generally just relaxed and had a good time. When we got back to England, me and Dad went to get the chinese (and to fill my car up with fuel). My car however decided not to like this and practically blew up (think smoke coming from the bonnet and no power up the hills). So we stopped and called the AA, and later found out that the head gasket blew (there was no oil, or water . . . I think it was dehydrated lol) and I waved goodbye to my trusty Corsa, who certainly dies before it's time. I then went out and bought a little Ford Ka, which is only 3 years old and I love to pieces.

In May we had Bristol Convention, which was really amazing. I met tons of new people and had such a great time. Me, Rach, and Grace dressed up for the 60s/70s/80s dance, we had a great time at the zoo, and I spent most of Sunday and Monday with the Danish guys who had rented a lamborghini (which was amazing to ride in) Overall, a great weekend!!

By the time July rolled around, I was in need of a holiday. I had spent pretty much the whole of May and June working 7 days a week. I ended up jetting off to Malta for the weekend for a bit of sun, and to visit a friend who now lives there. It was SCORCHING hot. About 33-35 everyday and even baking at night. It was really nice just to sit on the beach and bake, and relax, and top up my tan.

Also in July was Steph and Sam's wedding. Me and Rachel admittedly left the house a little late but gathered that since we only got there 5 minutes late we were still earlier than the bride. So you can imagine our surprise when we walked into the chapel (none too quietly), and sat down to realize that Steph had not only arrived, but had walked down the aisle 10 minutes earlier. . . Oops. We did however, make use of the gorgeous fascinators that we had bought about the time of the Royal Wedding. . . Don't we look pretty!!

I also came down with tonsillitis and an ear infection :( My ears had been a normal kind of blocked for a few weeks, and I knew I had a sore throat so when one day at work I was in complete agony and couldn't hear or clear my ears, and was (trying) to shout at the passengers, because I should speak I decided  it was time to visit a doctor. I was however a bit surprised that it was that bad and was ordered not to fly for the rest of the week. A prescription of Penicillin and a call to crew control and I was then off for 6 days. I didn't know what to do with myself. I cleaned, I cooked, and I socialized like crazy. On the Monday I went back to the Doctors who threatened to sign me off for another week. I ended up persuading him to only give me 2 more days off work as a) I could already feel an improvement and b) I was dying to go back to work. The one good thing about it all . . . Because you have to take penicillin 4 times a day on a empty stomach (2 hours after food or 1 hour before) I managed to lose quite a bit of weight. Well there has to be a plus side to being ill.

In August I was in charge of organizing the Thursday night activity and decided to have a Photo Scavenger Hunt in Bristol City Centre. It turned out to be a really awesome activity with much laughter. This is my team's picture on the escalators in House of Fraser. We split off into about 4 teams and had just over an hour to complete about 22 things on the list. After much laughter, and silliness, everyone ended up coming back to my place where we put on a movie, cooked up some food, and uploaded all the photos to laugh, point, judge, and load up to facebook.

We have now started the house hunt for our new abode starting with a funny viewing this morning. We arrived at the house and were stood in the rain for ages while the man was over 10 minutes late. He then can't get the key in the door and rang the office to only establish that he wasn't pushing hard enough. He then opens the door and the alarm goes off (and he doesn't know the code). We then proceed to look around this property with the alarm blaring away. lol. We have another 2 viewings with him tomorrow!!

So last year I was considering applying for British Airways but felt that it wasn't right at the time. Maybe I should of followed that feeling. This year, not only did I apply to BA, but also to Virgin Atlantic as Cabin Crew. 2 Mondays in a row and I was making my way up to London for first the Virgin interview, and then the BA one. I didn't get either. Virgin said no, and BA required my arms to be longer. lol. I could reach their bar that was up at 6'7" but could twist my hand so my knuckles were facing the wall without going on tip-toe. I was sent home straight away :( Whilst I am gutted my dream of long haul isn't going to come true any time soon I should feel lucky that I at least have a job, and I did spend a great few days visiting my brother in London.

As far as university in concerned, I decided to go and do Open University instead. It just felt so right. I have also managed to transfer about half a years of credits from BYU which is good news. I however, have been declined financial aid which will make it unaffordable. I'm still trying to think  of a solution/make a decision over it all.

Well I think that's all for now!!

University Update!!

I am so excited about my return to University, but even I had to admit that I was seriously worried about not being accepted anywhere. What if they didn't like my personal statement? What if my grades weren't good enough? So you can imagine my relief when less then 2 weeks after putting in my application I received an offer from The University of Glouchestershire. It's conditional . . . I have to send copies of my certificates lol. I was so excited to receive this offer because even though it wasn't my top choice it meant that I am definitely going to university somewhere. Last week I received another offer . . . this time from The University of Plymouth with the same condition.

I looked round Bath Spa University last week, man was it a culture shock. I am so used to BYU and the culture and atmosphere of the campus. Bath Spa was so small compared to what I'm used to, and there is so much open countryside. There is a bar on campus (yes I was and am aware that every university here has a bar) but BYU don't even serve caffeinated drinks. The clothes that people were wearing and the atmosphere was so different. When you walk round BYU you can tell that pretty much every student is a mormon even if you didn't know, just by the way they dress and act etc.

So it's going to be a culture shock going back to University.

Despite all this I'm still really excited to be going back and to starting  a (new) chapter of my life. I'm also really excited to be looking around The University of Plymouth this week.

A brand new year!!

Can you believe that it is a new year already?? I can't get over how fast 2010 seemed to fly by, it just seems like yesterday that I was moving from Stansted back home, or even moving from BYU back to England.

You can't go into the new year without starting to change at least one part of your life. I'm not a big one for resolutions, but I have made a few small goals that will improve my life. Nothing major and unrealistic like giving up chocolate. My biggest "resolution" is to find ONE good thing about myself every day. I am FANTASTIC at finding all the negatives about myself, so this is a way to start building my self-confidence a bit.

Other than that I am planning to implement a major change in my life this year . . . I am going back to University!! Whenever I say this to someone they ask if I'm going back to America, and whilst I wish I could, I just can't afford it, and it doesn't seem right anyway. I have just put my application in for 4 universities in England: Bath Spa University (which are going to consider my application as a 2nd year student), University of Gloucestershire, St Mary University College Twickenham London, and the University of Plymouth. I am really excited to be going back to get my degree, and then I plan to get my PGCE in Primary Education. I am slightly worried though because I know that the University structure etc here is so different to America, and I haven't had to study for like 2 years, my free time is free time right now and I just hope that I can adapt back to University life. I think the past 2 years out of Uni has really helped though because I've been able to recognize previous mistakes and I have the determination to do better and to work harder this time. I've done the whole typical student lifestyle and this time I'm going to be more serious.

Christmas was really good this year, it was so much fun watching Lucas enjoying Christmas, he is just at the right age. He was so cute when he came in to wake me up Christmas morning. He just leaned right in  and whispered "Kiri . . . It's me, it's Lucas. Kiri Santa came and gave me presents, and he came to you too. You must of been a good girl this year. Come on Kiri, wake up, let's go open our presents" It was the cutest thing. It was so good to be able to spend time with the whole family, and just relax. I wasn't too well over Christmas and so I even enjoyed a Christmas Day nap while everyone else was playing in the snow. It was great that we had a TON of snow leading up to Christmas, it made it feel so magical.