Saturday, June 5th

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! You're what, 30? Of course :)

Apparently this morning I woke up hysterically laughing. Felix and I slept in the camper van in the driveway, which had like 4 different beds in it (I NEED to get a camper for when I road trip across the U.S.). It is all a but hazy, but according to Felix I just woke up laughing so hard hard and so loud and then when I actually woke up, I was just really confused lol. Go figure. I remember dreaming that I was partaking in a civil war reenactment and that I was hiding from the Confederates on atop a play structure in the middle of the woods. Through some amazing acrobatic feat, I somersaulted off and landed. Then something funny happened and I woke up laughing. All in a good night's sleep I suppose.

Anyway, we got to the beach about half past 8, and Felix and Rob went to sign in. Naturally, I had brought my trainers and couldn;t resist but to go for a run to the farthest pier that I could see. It was just too pretty out. Well, I ran there in about 35 minutes, which is probably about 4.5 miles. I got there and it was b-e-a-utiful..well, until I realized the sun had fully risen and it was pretty hot and I had to run 4.5 miles back... Least to say, Im still alive, so obviously I made it!

Rob and Felix completely dominated all competition in volleyball for their first couple of matches. Guy and his twin (but not identical brother) also came down and hung out for the day. Nat and I are basically one in the same (Arianna, you would love her!), so we got along great. Nat spent a couple of years in the U.S and in S. Africa, but went to Bath for her undergrad. She is in Lboro now on a work placement year with a pharmecutical company. She played club Vball at Bath and knew a bunch of the guys on the team who were there. Like Lboro is a hub for track and rugby, Bath is a hub for beach volleyball players, and it was fun meeting some players from the Great Brittain beach vball team (Megan-- you would have LOVED it!). Kerry, Rob's GF is also so sweet and nice. She is a phys ed teacher at a nearby elementary school!

After a long day at the beach and a semi-sunburn later we went back to Rob's house and showered VERY quickly and then headed to his mom's house for a BBQ because it was his sister's birthday. We arrived and it just so happens that his mom owns a baking company or something-- but she was very good at cooking and the food and desserts were all so delicious. It was SO nice to enjoy a fabulous home cooked meal. Nothing can beat my mom's cooking though-- I like her spaghetti w/ dad's meatballs the best :)

After his mom's BBQ we went to Rob's friends house because his brother was celebrating his 21st birthday. And by house, I mean huge ridiculous out of this world on the coast house, and by burthday party I mean catered party with a live band and open bar party. It was extravagant and if it was his 16th would probably be on the MTV show sweet 16! haha. It was grand. His friends are very well off, but very well educated and polite, too. What you think of when you think "Proper English Gentleman". Rob's friends that I met were named Charlie, Sam, Tom, and Simon. I think they could have had a TV show for the 5 of them because they all have such different personalities, yet they are all just as nice and friendly and polite, and of course, really good friends. Nat and I even "shook" on a promise to go sailing on Sunday in one of their yachts if the weather was nice enough. They have sailed all their lives and I either Sam or Charlie (maybe both) are on the GB champiosnhip sailing team. Simon even promised us a joint bday party for me, Nat, Kerry, and himself (all June birthdays I think) in July! I think both were just drunken promises on their part though ;) Hopefully not!

We left about 1am and got to sleep at like half past 1. What a day of meeting AWESOME people!!! Up early tomorrow though so..more to come! Enjoy the pictures.


L to R is Guy, Rob, Kerry, Nat, Felix, me

Friday, June 4th

Today I got the day off from work because we are leaving for Bournemouth at 11am. Bournemouth is at the Southern Coast of England and is absolutely beautiful! Felix and Guy are two guys from work that I know who are going down for the weekend. Guy lives there, and also plays volleyball, but did not enter the tournament. Felix and his friend Rob "Flay" entered as pairs representing Loughborough. Rob and his girlfriend Kerry drove down to Bournemouth and a girl called Natalie "Nat" also came along. The drive in total took about three hours and when we got there we put our stuff down at Rob's dad's house and then went straight to the beach! We were lucky enough to be able to stay with Rob for the weekend.

The beach was really pretty and there were huge cliffs and sandy beaches along the English Channel "sea". The beach was actually quite rocky as a result of not sifting the sand that they put on the beach to widen it after dredging. I was afraid of cutting my foot, or falling and cutting my face! It was probably about 4pm by the time we reached the beach, so it was already a bit chilly. We got some fish and chips to eat and played some volleyball.

After the beach we headed to Tesco's to get food for the weekend. We wanted to get s'mores making materials (i.e. chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers), but they didnt have the right chocolate, they don't mke graham crackers in England, and the store was out of marshmallows. So much for making s'mores.

At night we ate pizza in the backyard, called the garden here. It is quite confusing, you see, calling the backyard the garden because when I think of garden I think of plants and butterflies whereas they think a typical backyard. SO strange! Anyway, we sat out in the "garden" for a good bit until the bugs started biting.

Thursday, June 3rd

Today I went to STI (Sports Tec Institute) and did more work-ish type things. I say work-ish because it is hard to classify as work when it is so fun. Also did my laundry for the first time, which was a good thing being that I am going to Bournemouth this weekend...which by the way was AWESOME, but you'll have to wait till I post from this weekend!

Wednesday, June 2nd

Today everyone was back..yay for that..I was getting kind of lonely (not really). Anyway, today I worked on making a sweet Frisbee for kids (better than the regular Frisbee). I would tell you details, but then I would have to kill you ;) Chris and I "tested" the toy in the parking lot for an excessive amount of time. It was needed though! Currently I am working on drawing that up in CAD and looking at soccer injuries for another company. I love what I am doing and everything is SO fun! Other than that I did not do much..everyone is in exams now and I am really tired from doing just too much stuff.

Tuesday, June 1st

I am FINALLY up to date on my blog. Hooray! Today everyone from Progressive was in Norich (sp?) at a meeting for a wrap up on a porject I wasn't involved in so I did not attend..that and the meeting was like 3 hours away ew. I finished the final document on the report we were working on and Rob sent me a bunch of British pop culture youtube videos I should watch :)

My training program started today for cross country and I ran this morning..around the cricket pitch like 1230 times! I got bored after dinner because all my friends at this uni are busy with finals and revision, so I went running to my favorite place in Loughborough..called Outwoods. Basically it is a huge hill overlooking the entire countryside and city and is near comprable to my favorite place in Boca Grande to run to (the docks in Boca Bay to watch the sunrise).

Tomorrow some people are going to Hey Ewe..not sure if I'll go, maybe! This weekend I am going to Bournemouth (please Google it!) to tag along to a beach volleyball tournament that some people from work are playing in. Always a good time in England ;)

Monday, May 31st

Unfortunately I left York this morning.. here are some pics I took when I was walking to the station.


I arrived back in Loughborough at about half 2 and took the bus back to the university. Kate was moving out of her dorm and was kind enough to give me everything she was about to throw out, including a dress, a few shirts, some food, and face wash/ other necessities I was going to buy anyway. Thanks Kate!!!

Tonight Iain from STI had a "hot tub party" at his place because he is leaving for Germany on Friday. A hot tub party is basically a pool party/bbq but because virtually no one has a pool, a hot tub is the next best thing. Least to say, we ate a lot of food (there was SO much) and played a lot of football (s0ccer). Great fun!

Sunday, May 30th

Today we woke up and went into town for a bit and just walked around. Of course it started raining so we soon retreated to the Student Union at York St. John's University where they were having an end of the summer term party! Here are some pics from that and of the University itself!!