The Harry Potter Tag

While I was browsing through ‘What Lauren Did Today’s’  lovely blog, I came across this tag and knew I had to give it a go! As you know I recently visited the Harry Potter Studio Tour and am now even more obsessed with Harry Potter than I was before! So, onto the tag…

1.   What is your favourite book?

I would probably have to choose the first book, just because it was the beginning of such an amazing world and I can still remember reading it for the first time. I love how it transported me into a whole new world of magic and excitement, and no matter how many times I read it I still can’t get enough of it.

2.   What is your favourite film?

I like the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2. I found that as the films progressed they got darker as they went along, and I love how dark the last films are. I like the fact that there is excitement and mystery at every turn, but also like the fact that we are finally starting to get some answers and battle between Harry and Voldemort. As much as I like Dumbledore, I think it’s also sort of good not having him there, because it makes Harry come out of his shell a bit more and he thinks more for himself.

3.   What is your least favourite book?

I don’t think I really have one to be honest. Although The Prisoner of Azkaban is probably the most forgettable, so I guess I’d have to choose that one. With all the other books I seem to really remember a lot from them, but for some reason this one doesn’t make such an impact on me.

4.   What is your least favourite film?

Again, I’d have to say The Prisoner of Azkaban, just because not a lot seems to happen in the film and like the book I find it pretty forgettable compared to all the other films. I always find it hard to watch the first film now, just because special effects have progressed so much since then, but in a way it’s quite nostalgic seeing them all so young!

5.   What parts of the books/films made you cry?

Definitely when Dobby died, although I didn’t really cry reading it, more so when I watched the film in the cinema. Slightly embarrassing when I’m blubbing away in the cinema surrounded by children who look as happy as larry!

6.   If you could hook up with any character who would it be?

I always thought that Viktor Crum was quite good looking, but I’m not sure there would be much communication between us, so perhaps that’s not the best person to choose! I guess it would be something to tell the Grandchildren if I hooked up with Harry!

7.   Who is your favourite character?

I’d have to pick Luna – I just love how delicate and pretty she is. When the rest of the characters are surrounded by dark happenings, I think she’s a pocket of light relief in a dream-like way. I get the impression she would never be nasty to anyone and I like the fact that she sees the good in everyone.

8.   Who is your least favourite character?

Umbridge really infuriates me, especially when she makes Harry write lines and they carve into his skin as he writes. I just think she’s a horrible person who is too proud and arrogant to admit that she’s wrong.

9.   What is your least favourite line?

I really don’t know the books well enough to pick out one line that I don’t like! I do have a favourite line though, which is ‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’

10.                 What would your Patronus be?

I’d like to say it would be something magnificent like a stag or a lion, but in reality I think it would be something like a cat, as I’m such a crazy cat lady! Saying that though, a cat would be nimble and quick, so hopefully good at protecting me.

11.                 If you could have the resurrection stone, invisibility cloak or elder wand which would you choose?

The Invisibility Cloak would be amazing – can you imagine how much fun you could have being invisible?! The Elder Wand would cause too much trouble with others wanting to duel with me for it, and the Resurrection Stone brought the three brothers way too many problems.

12.                 Which house would you be in?

I’ve always liked the idea of being in Hufflepuff, possibly because I like the way the word sounds! But Gryffindor would also be good fun, as that seems to be where all the great people go!

13.                 If you could meet any member of the cast who would it be?

I’d love to meet Emma Watson – she’s a fantastic actress and very beautiful. I think she would be really interesting to chat to and I’d definitely ask her for some fashion and make-up tips.

14.                 If you were on the Quidditch team which position would you play?

Well, for a start I don’t think I would be selected to be on the team because I’m terrible at sport! It would be quite fun being the Seeker though and not having to worry about hitting various heavy balls or the prospect of having to guard a goal.

15.                 Were you happy with the ending?

It was quite satisfying to see the end of Voldemort, but I don’t like the fact it was so final. There seems to be very little chance of there ever being any more books, which is probably a good thing going out on a high, but I’m ever hopeful something else might happen!

16.                 How much does Harry Potter mean to you?

A hell of a lot – my childhood books were the Harry Potter series. I remember people queuing the night before a new book came out, and then my friends and I would see who could read the book the quickest. We’d then spend months analysing the plot and talking about what we think will happen next. Then, when the films started coming out it was those that we queued up at the cinema to see. I will look back on my childhood fondly because of Harry Potter.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? I tag you to do this blog tag – I can’t wait to hear your answers!

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The Disney Tag

I really love doing tag posts – I think they’re great for when you’re struggling for inspiration and just want to do something a bit fun, plus who could resist a bit of Disney?! I found this tag over on Rachel’s blog, Strawberry Sundaes and decided to give it a go.

Favourite Disney film?

How could I possibly pick just one?! There are so many good ones so this is a really hard question. I love some of the old ones like Cinderella, Fantasia and Beauty and the Beast. But I also love some of the newer ones like Tangled and Frozen

Favourite Disney Character?

Another difficult question as there are so many different characters out there. Olaf is definitely a favourite as he’s so darn cute but I also love TinkerBell.

Favourite Disney Princess?

I love Cinderella as she shows that a pair of shoes can change your life! I also love Elsa and Anna in Frozen, and Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Rather be Aurora or Cinderella?

Definitely Cinderella because I love her story and the beautiful dress she gets to wear.

Rather be Hercules or Tarzan?

I wouldn’t really want to be either to be honest, although being able to swing through the trees like Tarzan would probably be quite fun!

Rather be Lizzie McGuire or Raven Baxter?

I used to watch Lizzie McGuire a lot more than ‘That’s so Raven’, so I would probably go for being Lizzie as she seemed to have a lot of fun adventures.

Favourite Disney song?

Wow, that’s a difficult question as I absolutely love Disney songs and have several CD’s full of them! I love ‘Let it Go’ but then who doesn’t? But with the older songs I love The Circle of Life and I Just Can’t Wait to be King because they’re great to sing along to. And I also like Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid.

Which Disney character would be your best friend?

I think I’d get on quite well with Anna from Frozen, but would also love an animal companion like Timon of Pumba!

Which Disney character would be your pet?

You can’t beat Pascal from Tangled – he’s so cute! I’d also love a pet Olaf and Flounder from The Little Mermaid is pretty cute too.

Have you ever been to Disneyland?

I’ve been to Disneyland Paris, which was the most amazing holiday ever – really brought out my inner child. My absolute dream though is to go to America. One-day maybe!

Are you a Disney fan? I’d love to hear some of your answers to these questions.

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"Would you rather..." Beauty Edition Tag

I was recently tagged by Becky over at Coffee, Beauty and Life to do the “Would you rather…” Beauty Edition Tag. I always think tags are quite fun, as you get to know more about the person behind the blog and I’m one of those people who loves to fill things in and answer questions! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lip-glosses or lose all of your palettes and eye shadows?

I think I would cope OK if I lost my palettes and eye shadows, as I’m pretty terrible at applying eye shadow without looking like a clown. However, if I were to lose my mascara, eyeliner, lipsticks and lip-glosses I would struggle on the days I wear make-up, as these products make up a pretty big section of my beauty routine!

Would you rather chop all your hair off or never be able to cut it again?

This is a bit of a difficult one, because as mortifying as I would find it to lose all my hair, the thought of never being able to cut it would also fill me with dread. Don’t you hate it when you’re due a cut and blow dry and you’ve got split ends and your hair just feels like it’s hanging round your face with no shape or volume. Still, I think I’d rather have hair to play around with than having no hair at all. My hair already falls out quite a bit and I do get scared that one day it will become a bigger problem, so I think I’d chose to never cut it again.

Would you rather have coral cheek or pink cheek?

This is pretty easy for me as my favourite colour is pink and it definitely suits me more than coral shades!

If you had £1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or make up?

Can I not choose to buy both?! I think I would probably go for clothes because that encapsulates so much – shoes, dresses, trousers, tops, hats, accessories…you’d get more choice for your money than if you had to just buy beauty products I think. Plus I don’t tend to buy masses of make-up because I’m rubbish at applying it!

Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?

Well to be honest I’d rather not do either, but if I had to I’d apply eyeliner as lipstick and choose a pink toned one (is that cheating?!)

Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?

I’ve never shopped in Sephora before (I know, bad blogger!) and I am a big fan of Mac; however I think I’d probably choose Sephora because I’d have more choice and could find more products that suited my budget.

Would you rather only use one eye shadow colour or one lip colour for the rest of your life?

I’d definitely stick to one lip colour. I’ve found that I tend to buy similar lip colours anyway; whereas with eye shadows there are so many colours to choose from I’d hate to be limited to one colour forever!

Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?

I hate being too hot but I also hate being too cold, so this question is really difficult. I’d probably go for wearing summer clothes in winter and then permanently attach myself to a radio or cover myself in a blanket, as the thought of melting in winter clothes in the middle of summer just sounds like torture.

Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?

Definitely bright nails as I love to cheer myself up with brightly coloured nail varnishes, and you can find a colour suitable for any time of year.

Would you rather give up your favourite lip colour or favourite eye product?

It would have to be the lip colour as I use a lot more products on my eye area and I don’t think I could give those up easily.

Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?

I’m definitely a ponytail girl so this question is pretty simple to answer. If I had to wear a ponytail for the rest of my life I wouldn’t be too worried!

Would you rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lip-gloss?

I’d never use lip-gloss, as I love painting my nails way too much!

Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in every day?

I think doing either would be pretty awful, but if I had to choose I would shave them, as I’d hate to get it wrong with a sharpie and look constantly surprised or angry!

Would you rather live without make up or nail polish?

This is really difficult! I love to paint my nails and I think it’s a great way to cheer yourself up if you’re feeling a bit down, but then I look like a ghost without make up so I can’t imagine feeling confident enough to go places without it. Plus it’s a Godsend when you need to cover up blemishes or dark circles, so I guess I’d live without nail varnish.

I’d like to tag the following ladies from some of my favourite blogs:

Victoria at Victoria's Vintage

Becky at Milk Bubble Tea

Emma at Milkteef

Charlotte at Lipglossiping

Jennie at Sailboat

Victoria at Inthefrow

And anyone else that fancies giving it a go!

Let me know if you do your own post as I’d love to read it

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Life in Letters

A while ago I was browsing through Confetti Letters’ blog and came across her ‘Life in Letters’ tag. I love reading posts like that, as I think it helps you to get to know the person behind the blog a bit better, so I was super excited to see she had tagged her readers at the end of her post! It’s taken me a little while to think of something suitable for every letter, but I’ve finally made it and am ready to share my Life in Letters with you.

A is for Appendix…As far as I’m aware, my appendix has never caused me any trouble, but in January this year I ended up in A&E with possible appendicitis. Cue various blood tests and scans, and a few days spent on the surgical ward being prodded and poked by a plethora of different specialists. My diagnoses ranged from appendicitis to a mass on my right ovary. However, after my health deteriorating further, the decided to take me to theatre and whip it out. Apparently it looked absolutely fine when they removed it, so we’re still trying to work out what is causing the pain. I guess the upside is that I can never get appendicitis in the future!

B is for Bookworm…If you’ve seen my past posts you’ll already be aware of my love for reading. I’ve been a bookworm for as long as I can remember. I’m sure this is partly because my parents read to me every night before bed. Even when I was a small baby, my Dad would read me Peter Rabbit every night, and as I began to learn to talk, I learnt to recite the whole book off by heart. As I got older I started reading for myself – books like Animal Ark and stories by Jacqueline Wilson were firm favourites. I wish I had more time to read these days – it’s lovely to just escape into a fantasy world for a while, so I try to read at least a few pages every night before I go to sleep.

C is for Church…I was brought up in a Christian family. My Grandparents went to Church, and so did my parents, so it’s all I’ve ever known really. I’ve never been forced to believe though. When I was younger I guess I didn’t have much choice about going to Church on a Sunday morning, but it was never really an issue as I had some great friends there and we enjoyed our children’s group while the adults did the boring bit! As I’ve got older I’ve been through phases where I’ve not wanted to go to Church any more and my parents have never made me feel bad for it. I’ve found that, especially when I’ve been very unwell, I often feel very angry with God and just can’t cope with people telling me how great He is. I guess I’m probably going through one of those phases at the moment, which is why I’ve been distancing myself from it a bit (well, that, and the fact that I’m not actually well enough to go). But there have been other times when I’ve found real comfort in my faith. I’m sure it’s normal to go through times of doubt and anger whatever your faith may be.

Alfie

Freddie

D is for Dogs…I remember as a child, every year I would ask for a puppy for my birthday or Christmas present. And every year I would be disappointed. My Dad has always wanted a family dog, but it just wouldn’t have been fair on my Mum or the dog if we’d bought one when my siblings and I were younger. Having five young children to look after was more than enough work for my poor Mum! A few years ago I happened to hear of some Golden Retriever puppies being born, and jokingly, I sent a photo of the Mum to my Dad, asking him if we could reserve a puppy. When he said yes you should have seen the reaction of the rest of us – I’ve never seen us all so excited (well, apart from Mum, who was a bit wary!) This is how Alfie came to be a part of our family. Going to see him for the first time, it was just amazing to be presented with the tiniest little ball of fur. Going back to visit him a week or so later, I couldn’t believe the difference – all of a sudden he seemed to have doubled in size! He’ll be five in August and I really cannot imagine life without him. Then, towards the end of last year, my sister decided that she wanted a little dog of her own, which she could take to work with her at the stables. We had actually been looking at Cavalier King Charles Spaniels when a gorgeous photo of an abandoned Jack Russell puppy appeared on my Facebook. ‘Little Dave,’ as he’d been named, was looking for a home. We decided to visit him and it really was love at first sight! We actually brought him home that very day, much to my Mum’s horror! But he fitted right in, and with his new name, Freddie, he became the newest member of the Cole family.

E is for Eating Disorder…If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll probably already be aware of my eating disorder story as I dedicated a post to it back in February, for Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Since my teens, I’ve had a lot of difficulties with my mental health and, alongside the eating disorder, have been diagnosed with depression and a personality disorder. I’m very passionate about raising awareness and understanding of all mental illnesses, so I’m hoping to do more posts on mental health in the future.

F is for Florida…I absolutely love Disney, always have done ever since I was little. I could quite happily sit and watch a Disney movie or play with my Snow White and Sleeping Beauty Barbie’s. Not much has changed really (apart from the fact I no longer play with Barbie’s!) I still have a love for anything Disney and something I have always wanted to do is visit Disney World Florida. A few years ago we had a family holiday to Disneyland Paris, which was just fantastic. I was absolutely exhausted and in pain every day, but I’m so glad I went and I would go back in a heartbeat! You really do turn back into your inner child – chasing characters for their autographs, singing along to popular Disney songs and taking enough photos to last a lifetime! I really do hope that one day I will be lucky enough to go to the one in Florida.

G is for Gallbladder…This year has been a bit of a busy one so far when it comes to having organs removed! After having my appendix out back in January, my health continued to be a problem. I was in and out of hospital more times than I can remember, and after more prodding and poking and a few more tests, they discovered I had gallstones. Fast-forward another month or so and I was back on the operating table, but this time having my gallbladder removed. I’m hoping that will be it as far as operations are concerned, as I’m running out of organs to remove now!

H is for health…I’ve always had problems with my health, and I’ll be writing about some of these difficulties in some posts this month, as May is Invisible Illness Awareness Month. Just as a quick summary though, I was diagnosed with M.E when I was 15, where my health has ranged from pretty good to severely ill. My doctors are now considering the possibility of a different diagnosis, so I am currently undergoing tests for a connective tissue disease, possibly EDS. Keep your eyes peeled for my series of health posts this month for more detailed information.

I is for Internet…I honestly don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for the Internet. I remember back to my childhood, when you had to dial up to get online – anyone else remember that awful noise it made?! Obviously the Internet is great for all sorts of things including finding out information, doing a bit of shopping and playing games. But I’ve found it to be a particular lifesaver when it has come to my illnesses. When I was diagnosed with M.E, I joined a charity for young people and started using the message board. Through this I have made some incredible friends from all over the UK. I know some people are quite sceptical about online friends, questioning whether they can really be proper friends if you’ve never met, but I can 100% assure you that they can be. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of my online friends and we’ve got on in real life just as well as we did online. But some of my closest friends are people I’ve never met, and I’m fine with that. Hopefully one day we will be well enough to meet, but until then, I know they will be there for me whenever I need them.

J is for Jaffa…As you can probably tell from the name of my blog, Jaffa is a pretty big part of my life. For anyone that doesn’t know, Jaffa is my black cat and my best friend. I know it might sound silly to call a cat your best friend, but I’m sure anyone who owns a pet will tell you just how amazing a pet can be. My parents bought him for me when I first got ill, almost ten years ago, and he’s been there for me ever since. Through hospital admissions, worrying tests, loss of friends and family and all the good stuff too! He seems to know how I’m feeling and will curl up with me when I’m in pain or feeling sick. He’s also got a playful side though and will often sit on my bedside table, knocking things off until I give him some attention. I often refer to him as Salem, as he reminds me so much of the cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch!

K is for Kwik-E-Mart…I feel like I cheated on this one a little bit, but I was struggling to think of something beginning with K! Anyway, I’m using this to represent my love for The Simpsons. I remember when my parents first let me watch it – every evening we would tune into Sky One in time to hear that tell-tale theme tune. I never tire of the episodes and am always excited when I see a new one being played. We love The Simpsons so much that we’ve actually bought The Simpsons Monopoly, several video games and I’ve downloaded The Simpsons Tapped Out onto my iPad.

L is for London…I’m really lucky to live within a fairly short distance of our lovely capital city, and when I’m well enough I love nothing more than a day out there. When I was younger, my Dad would take me up to London for a day, where we’d visit places like Paddington, Covent Garden and the Zoo. I’m not a particularly well-travelled person, but I really do think you can’t beat London. There is always so much to do and see, and the shops are second to none! Whether you’re looking for big brands like Topshop and Forever 21, or more quirky one-off places, there’s just something for everyone. I don’t think I will ever get tired of visiting there.

M is for M.E…As I have already mentioned, I suffer from M.E. and was diagnosed when I was 15. M.E. Awareness Week falls in the middle of May, so I’ll be devoting a number of posts to discussing the condition and how it affects my life. M.E. is often used interchangeably with the abbreviation CFS, which stands for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. However, I prefer to stick to the M.E label, as I feel CFS doesn’t get across the wide variety of symptoms associated with the illness. As I said, please do keep your eyes peeled for my posts on the subject.

N is for Nikon…I love to take photos and you’ll rarely find me without some sort of camera. I can still remember being presented with my first camera – you could take about 25 photos before needing to take the film along to your nearest Boots and then waiting another week before getting to see your snaps. It’s amazing how much photography has progressed since then and I still think it’s pretty awesome that a photo can be taken and online within the space of a few seconds. I was given my Nikon DSLR for my 21^st Birthday, and although I don’t know a lot about the theory behind photography, I’m more than happy to snap away until I’ve got a photo that I’m happy with. The only thing I really miss about the old style camera is having your photos arranged in an album. I love looking through old family albums, so I do try to get my photos printed now and again, but I just take so many that printing them all just isn’t feasible.

O is for Organisation…I’ve always been what some may call a ‘neat freak.’ I just like things to be in the right place and for everything to make sense and be straightforward in my head. Over the years I’ve come to realise that life just isn’t like that. Things don’t always go to plan, they don’t always make sense and in all reality, life is messy. Still though, where I can, I will try to keep things organised. I’m a big believer in the phrase ‘A tidy space = a tidy mind,’ so I do try to keep my surroundings as orderly as possible. I find it helps me to feel calmer and less stressed. I like to indulge my habit by investing in things to help me feel more organised – a Filofax, highlighters, ring binders, storage cabinets. I can honestly say that I actually quite enjoy tidying. I often used to help my siblings tidy their rooms or sort out their wardrobes (not so much now as most of us are adults!) but I think I enjoy the satisfaction of seeing things in some sort of order.

P is for Pen Pals…Before I became ill as a teenager I’d never really heard of pen pals. All my friends went to the same school as me, and if one moved away, we would generally just lose touch. I had no need to write letters to people because I could just walk round the corner and knock on their door! But when I got ill, that all changed. I lost a lot of my ‘real-life’ friends and began to feel incredibly isolated. My consultant introduced me to AYME, an M.E charity for children and young people, and after having a browse of their website I came across the message boards. I was soon chatting away to other people my own age, who understood what it was like to be chronically ill. In those days there weren’t many rules and regulations, so we shared contact details and started writing to each other. Unfortunately, now, the rules are a lot more strict, which makes sharing details there more difficult, but you can still apply for a pen pal. I can honestly say that snail mail has changed my life. It takes away some of the isolation associated with illness and it’s always nice to receive something in the post that isn’t a bill or junk! I’m always open to finding new pen pals, so if it’s something you are interested in, you can e-mail me at my blog e-mail.

Q is for Quotes…I’ve always found quotes helpful, and since I joined Pinterest I’ve found so many inspirational and motivational quotes that keep me going. I could quite happily while away the hours by browsing through all the pictures on the website, pinning my favourite sayings and passages!

R is for RAOK’s…If you’ve not heard of an RAOK before, it stands for ‘Random Act of Kindness.’ Basically, it’s anything kind that somebody does that isn’t expected. On the AYME message boards, a few years ago, I set up an RAOK scheme, and each week a different person would be nominated to receive something like messages or post. I don’t tend to use the message boards these days, but I have set up a group on Facebook, specifically for RAOK’s. Anyone can request to join, and can then nominate someone they know is going through a difficult time. The nomination is then explained to the group, and we ask as many people as possible to take part. I always think it’s nice doing something for someone else, especially if things aren’t going well for them, so if you’re interested in joining the group, just follow this link to join.

This family photo also includes my brother's fiance and my other brother's girlfriend

S is for Siblings…You may already be aware that I come from quite a large family – I have two younger brothers and two younger sisters. I don’t remember my first brother being born, as I was only a toddler myself, but when my Mum told us she was pregnant with my youngest brother I was beyond excited about the possibility of having a sister (she didn’t know the gender). However, when my Dad rang us after my Mum had given birth, and told me I had another brother, I put the phone down on him and cried! It’s safe to say that now, my brothers and I get on really well, but my parents like to remind me of my strop every now and again! When my two sisters came along, I was overjoyed to finally have another girly confidante, and we would all often play together. I’ll admit that when I was younger I wasn’t keen on having such a large family, as it did restrict what we could do as a family in some ways. But now I feel glad to have so many siblings – there is always someone there when you need them and our house is always bustling and busy, which I love.

T is for Travel…I’m not particularly well travelled to be honest. I’ve been to France, Holland, Belgium, Washington and New York, and that’s about it. OK, so it’s more travelled than some, but compared to a lot of others I still have so much to see. There are so many places I would love to go, starting with destinations within the UK! For example, I’ve never been to Scotland or Ireland, so they’re both on my bucket list! I’ve always wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand, see other parts of America, Canada, Europe and so many pretty little islands dotted around various seas. Hopefully one day I’ll get there.

U is for University…Unfortunately, I haven’t been particularly successful when it comes to University. When I was younger I had a plan in my head – I would go to Uni straight from school and train to be a doctor. I’d study hard and play hard – hanging out with new friends, drinking until the early hours and dressing up in daft costumes. Well, to begin with, I didn’t go to University straight from school. Instead, it took me an extra year to get my A Levels, because I spent a lot of time in hospital. After that I did head off to Portsmouth, but not to study medicine; I just wasn’t well enough. Instead, I chose Childhood and Youth Studies, and for the first few months’ things were fantastic. I went to lectures and seminars, getting good marks in my assignments. And when I wasn’t studying I was partying and enjoying the student lifestyle. Fast-forward another couple of months though, and I was on the phone to my Dad in tears. I couldn’t stop crying, I was exhausted, could barely walk and hadn’t eaten properly for weeks. So, I had to make the hard decision to drop out. Later that year, I began a degree in Psychology with the Open University, and for a few years things went well. Again, I was getting good marks and enjoying my studying, but, again, I fell ill and had to stop my course. This brings us to today, where again, I’m not too well, but am desperate to get a degree. I have plans to go back to college in September, and just have everything crossed that I can be well enough to do so.

V is for Volunteering…For as far back as I can remember I’ve enjoyed doing things for other people. As soon as I was old enough I was helping out with children’s groups at Church, running Bring and Buy sales for charity and babysitting for family friends. Nowadays, when I’m well enough, I volunteer at a local youth club, doing things like activity planning, interacting with young people and fundraising for good causes. I would really recommend volunteering to everyone. No matter what your limitations are, there is something you can do to help others. If you’re not able to get out, there are organisations who need people to reply to e-mails or phone calls, or if you’re able to get out and about, you’ll find a huge number of needy causes that would appreciate you giving a couple of hours of your time. As well as helping those who need it, it also helps the volunteers themselves by increasing your self-esteem and promoting mental wellbeing. Why not give it a go and see for yourself?

W is for Work…This is another sticking point for me unfortunately. Like University, I desperately want to be able to work full time in a job I am passionate about. I know a lot of people moan about their jobs and having to work, and I can understand why people need to moan sometimes, but from the perspective of someone who really struggles to maintain any sort of normality, the idea of working is pretty idyllic. I’ll often hear comments from people, telling me I’m so lucky that I don’t have to work, but in all reality it’s not lucky at all! Not being able to provide for myself and do something I feel is worthwhile is heartbreaking. I hate having to rely on other people to look after me financially and would give anything to be well enough to work a proper job.

X is for Xena…This is our youngest cat, Xena. Well, I say she’s a cat, but she’s actually a bit confused and tends to act more like a dog! Her mother had made a little nest up in some rafters before she gave birth, and unfortunately, after having her babies, Xena had fallen out of the nest and her Mum hadn’t realised. A friend of ours witnessed this and kept an eye on the situation to see if her mother would find her. It didn’t happen and the mother rejected her, so she needed to be hand-reared from one day old. Our friend did this in her own home, in which she had three dogs, so Xena was brought up to be a dog. She will often come and climb all over you, lick your face and wag her tail!

Y is for Yorkshire…This is one of my favourite places to go to in the UK. My Grandparents used to live up in North Yorkshire, and I loved going up there to visit them. Compared to down in the South, the people are so friendly and would talk to you in the street even if they didn’t know you. I also love the huge expanses of moorland, fields and farm animals. It really is just a beautiful place, and whenever I’m there I feel so much more relaxed and grounded. Sadly, my Grandpa passed away a few years ago and my Grandma moved down here to be closer to the family, so we haven’t had a reason to go back up North. But I’m really hoping I will always have a connection with it, and go back there from time to time.

Z is for Zzz…I spent ages trying to decide what to use for this letter, and I’ve sort of cheated a bit I guess! Zzz represents my love of sleep. Being ill, I am always exhausted, so sleep is a pretty important part of my life. My condition means that sleep doesn’t refresh me like it would a healthy person though, which is one of the reasons I’m so exhausted all the time. I do love my bed though, and some days I could easily stay there!

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know me a bit more. I’m tagging YOU – anyone who reads this – to complete your own Life in Letters post

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The TMI Tag

A couple of weeks ago, I was catching up on my blog reading and came across the TMI Tag on the lovely Chloe's blog. She tagged all her readers to complete this tag, so I thought why not?! I really enjoy reading these tag posts, as I think it helps you get to know the blogger a bit better, so I really hope you enjoy reading mine!

1. What are you wearing?

Nothing too exciting I’m afraid. Since I’ve been ill this time round, I’ve pretty much lived in comfy, soft clothes, as they’re the only things that feel comfortable. Today I’m wearing a pair of Black River Island jeggings, a pink vest top from Topshop, a pink zip-up hooded jacket from Abercrombie and Fitch and my trusty bedroom boots from Accessorize.

2. Have you ever been in love?

To be honest I’m not quite sure. At times I have definitely felt like I was in love, but looking back now I’d say it was probably lust. I’m still looking for that right man to sweep me off my feet!

3. Have you ever had a terrible break up?

I’ve had a couple of break-ups that have really thrown me and taken me a long time to get over, but I wouldn’t say they were terrible, just normal break-ups.

4. How tall are you?

I seem to grow and shrink depending on where I’m measured, but I’m usually around 5’5”, so pretty average!

5. How much do you weigh?

It’s not really something I feel is healthy to talk about. I’ve had a lot of problems with food and my weight, so am trying to come to terms with the fact that weight does not define who you are. All I will say is I’m a healthy weight for my height, and that’s all that matters.

6. Any tattoos?

None yet, but I’ve been considering one for ages. I did want to get ‘Believe’ across the inside of my wrist, but now I’m not sure I like that placing, or the word for that matter. I’d like to get something done, to remind me of how far I’ve come and to keep fighting, but haven’t been able to decide exactly what or where.

7. Any piercings?

Just one hole in each ear and I’m happy with that. I’m not averse to more piercings on other people, but I don’t think they’d really suit me.

8. You OTP? (One true pairing)

Jelly and ice cream! Does that count?! I love it even if it doesn’t!

9. Your favourite show?

Such a difficult question as it completely depends on my mood and what’s on! I’m a big fan of Friends and Big Bang Theory, but am also a little bit addicted to The Simpsons and Family Guy. And just recently I can’t stop watching old episodes of New Tricks!

10. Favourite Band?

Again, this is quite a difficult question, as I don’t just have one favourite. I love listening to The Beatles, as I remember my Dad playing them to me when I was little. Also Queen and Bon Jovi. More recent favourites include Girls Aloud (who are amazing live) and I like a lot of singers like Ellie Goulding, Pink and Michael Buble.

11. Something you miss?

There are quite a few things I miss, which have made me realise not to take anything for granted. I miss feeling healthy, although I struggle to remember what that felt like now after so long. I miss my Grandad and Grandpa, who sadly passed away. And I miss my friends – those who I thought were close friends who haven’t been there, but also those who are close friends who I just don’t get to see enough.

12. Favourite Song?

These questions aren’t easy! I love ‘Don’t Stop Me Know’ by Queen, ‘Will you still love me tomorrow’ by The Shirelles, ‘Nobody Does it Better’ by Carly Simon and ‘How long will I love you’ by Ellie Goulding.

13. How old are you?

25, although I still feel like I’m 15!

14. What zodiac sign are you?

I’m most definitely a Libra – completely indecisive, romantic and just.

15. Qualities you look for in a partner?

Loyalty, good sense of humour, open-minded, caring, fun, honest, romantic and loving

16. Favourite Quote?

I’m a massive lover of quotes, and I like different quotes for different situations. However, one of my all time favourites actually comes from Harry Potter and is spoken by Dumbledore – ‘Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’ I’m in the process of redecorating my room, and am going to get a wall sticker with this quote to stick by my light switch, as it really inspires me.

17. Favourite Actor?

I’m a big fan of Johnny Depp, as I think he is such an adaptable actor and puts 100% into all his roles.

18. Favourite colour?

Pink, always pink!

19. Loud music or soft?

It depends how I’m feeling. If I need to relax, calm down or go to sleep I will put on some soft music. If I’m feeling angry or my mental health difficulties are particularly bad I will put my headphones in and turn it up as loud as possible, as I just don’t want to hear what’s in my head. But on a day-to-day basis I just like my music at an in-between level.

20. Where do you go when you're sad?

The first place I tend to go is up to my room, but it’s something I’m trying to get out of because being on my own when I’m sad isn’t that great for me. I’ll sometimes go to my parents for a hug, or if I’m well enough to go out for a little walk I like to do that.

21. How long does it take you to shower?

This varies depending on what I plan to do in the shower! If I just need to have a quick wash, it probably takes me about 10 minutes to shampoo and condition my hair. However if I’m treating myself to more of a pamper, I will either run a bubble bath, or will just spend more time in the shower using various hair and face masks.

22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Again, this depends on what I’m getting ready for! If I’m going to work I usually allow myself just over an hour to get up, have breakfast, get dressed and do my make-up. But if I’m not going out and am staying at home, I don’t tend to bother with make-up, so need less time.

23. Ever been in a physical fight?

Not really – I’m not big on physical fighting as I think it’s so easy to lose control of yourself and do something you’ll later regret. Sure, I’ve had the odd tussle with my siblings when we were younger, but nothing serious. I personally don’t see the point in physical fights, as they don’t solve the problem. Yes, they may help you get your anger out, but there are healthier ways to do that.

24. Turn on?

Humour – I love a guy who can make me laugh

25. Turn off?

Spending longer in front of the mirror than me, narrow-mindedness and arrogance.

26. The reason you started blogging?

I’ve kept a diary since I was about 6 years old, and have always enjoyed writing about things in there. I was introduced to the world of blogging by a friend and spent a couple of years just reading other people’s blogs and thinking ‘I could do that!’ So, in October last year I just thought, why don’t I give it a go! And I haven’t looked back.

27. Fears?

Losing people I love and care about, growing up, not achieving my dreams and goals, spiders!

28. Last thing that made you cry?

This is going to sound rather embarrassing, as I rarely cry at TV or films. However, when watching Hollyoaks this week, I was left a blubbering mess when baby Katie died. The actress who plays Sinead acted her scenes fantastically.

29. Last time you said you loved someone?

I can’t remember an exact time, but I’m always telling my Mum and Dad that I love them. I’ve always believed it’s important to tell people that because I get scared that one day they won’t be around and I won’t have told them how I feel.

30. Meaning behind your blog name?

I was trying to think of a name that said something about my life, but that was also a bit quirky and unique. I have had a cat called Jaffa since I was 16, and I’m always being accused of rambling on, so Ramblings of a Jaffa Cat was born!

31. Last book you read?

‘The Time of My Life’ by Cecelia Ahern. Fantastic book.

32. The book you're currently reading?

‘Oh Dear Silvia’ by Dawn French. I’m over half way through it, but really struggling to get into it unfortunately.

33. Last show you watched?

This Morning. I’m a bit addicted at the moment!

34. Last person you talked to?

My Dad, who is working at home today.

35. The relationship between you and the last person you texted?

She’s one of my best friends and has supported me through some really difficult times over the last few years. Plus she has two gorgeous little girls, who always make me smile.

36. Favourite Food?

Hmm, difficult one! I really like natural yoghurt mixed with runny honey and have always loved my vegetables. However, I do also have a sweet tooth and love Jelly Babies (always the red, pink and black ones) and Magic Stars!

37. Place you want to visit?

So many places I want to see. I’d like to see more of the UK – Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Devon (again). I’d love to see more of America, particularly California, Florida (Disney especially) and possibly New York again, but in a different season. I’d also like to visit Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean, some of the Greek Islands and more of Europe.

38. Last place you were?

Well, I’ve spent most of this week stuck at home not feeling well, but the last place I was at before I was here was the hospital. Isn’t my life exciting!?

39. Do you have a crush?

Not especially at the moment. There are celebrities I find attractive, but I wouldn’t say I have a crush on them.

40. Last time you kissed someone?

It was a couple of months ago now – that’s all the detail you’re getting!

41. Last time you were insulted?

It was fairly recently actually, when a few people have made comments about my physical and mental health, who obviously don’t have much understanding.

42. Favourite flavour of sweet?

I will always go for the red, pink and black ones! So anything strawberry, cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant.

43. What instruments do you play?

Unfortunately I don’t get many opportunities to play at the moment, but I can play the flute, piccolo, tin whistle and also had piano and singing lessons. I learnt the recorder as well and taught myself to play the ocarina.

44. Favourite piece of jewellery?

I love my Pandora bracelet, as every charm has a meaning behind it, which makes it very special. I also have another charm bracelet that my best friend bought me, which is very special. When I was in New York a few years ago I treated myself to a bracelet from Tiffany’s, which will always be a favourite piece. And finally, my Grandparents bought me a ring when I was in my teens, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

45. Last sport you played?

I haven’t played sport for a long time! Although last year we had a holiday at Center Parcs and I had a little go at badminton, which was quite fun.

46. Last song that you sang?

‘Do you want to build a snowman?’ from Frozen. It’s seriously stuck in my head!

47. Favourite chat up line?

I hate chat up lines!

48. Have you ever used it?

I don’t use chat up lines, and am pretty sure I would be terrible at them if I did try!

49. Last time you hung out with anyone?

One of my best friends came to see me last Saturday, so it was probably then, unless you count my siblings, who are always around.

50. Who should answer this tag next?

Anyone who reads it! I love being nosey and hearing more about you all. Please let me know if you do decide to answer this tag.

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