A year of no alcohol: One day more

That’s right. Having started on 01.09.2017, tomorrow, I can finally have an alcoholic beverage.

Though it’s been hard, at the end of the day – it’s just a drink. I think that’s what I’ve realised most – it’s a type of drink that’s culturally saturated in meaning (sorry, that’s the sociology student in me). So many people said “I don’t know how you do it!”

But you just do. It’s just a drink.

I didn’t set out to raise money for charity, but am so pleased I decided to and have been absolutely overwhelmed by people’s generosity – and you can still donate!

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/daisyew

Day 152: Happy Birthday Stefan

Happy Birthday Stefan.

For those of you that don’t know, Stefan is my older brother and only sibling. I haven’t written about him much in the blog (mainly because it is about going away, and I haven’t seen him since I left).

I wouldn’t have the same adventurous spirit if it wasn’t for him. He was always the one that dared me to eat the weird food, go on the craziest roller coaster or biggest slide, and somehow convinced me to jump off a cliff (with a bungee rope attached, of course), but he made me want to keep up.

Day 134: On having been 21

21 was a great year. People said it would be.

People also asked, because had a gap year before my degree, if i’d still want a gap year after it to travel (the post-degree gap year is definitely an increasingly popular occurrence), instead I travelled bang in the middle.

In my 21st year I had the privilege of visiting Canada, America, England, Wales, Germany, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

I know that my final year will not be nearly as exciting, and yet I’m excited. Once a nomad, always a nomad, so you never know what’s in store.

Day 113: Special Day

Today is not only my dad’s birthday, but it is also Father’s Day (at least in England, though neither of us are there)

My dad is one of the coolest people I know. He makes me laugh a lot, he has a great taste in music, he cares for me and teaches me that I deserve to be treated well.

I cannot wait to see him soon. I am very fortunate to have a dad like mine.

 

Day 119: I’m happiest when…

I’m happiest when I’m at the beach.

It doesn’t really matter which beach, I mean I am excluding Brighton ‘beach’ here- if it’s got stones instead of sand, it doesn’t count.

I grew up by Bournemouth beach, which I have to admit, is pretty extravagant, and i’ve seen a lot of beaches for my short time on earth. I remember complaining as a kid when our friends from London came down to visit and we ‘had’ to go to the beach. It’s the one thing I hate the most about Manchester.

Anyway, this is me, being happy, at Wollongong beach.

Day 118: Laughing so hard

You know when you laugh so hard that your jaws ache? Or your tummy hurts? Or you are silently laughing so hard that no noise comes out? Or just tears? We all love to laugh like that and often it’s over something so simple. This evening with Maddie, Nick, and Nick’s super cool mum Jacque, I laughed harder than I have in a long time.

The best part? It was just over a very silly, rather basic card game that my friend Lee taught me cut has always led to hysterics.

Sometimes the simplest things are the best ones.

Day 117: Bye bye books

One of my favourite things about where I live is how close it is to campus. I became friends with the library this semester, (and for USyd students, yes, I do mean Fisher), but I’m going to need a suitcase to take all the books back tomorrow.

Although I’m looking forward to reading books ‘for fun’ during the holidays, I will miss my 9th floor spot at Fisher, and the convenience of being able to grab a book and return to my desk in under 15 minutes.

In the words of Forrest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that.”

 

Day 116: And, relax

I just handed in my last essay! The last few weeks have been crazy, and now the fun begins. It’s not that I wasn’t having fun before, it’s just that you’re never really free to enjoy yourself when there are other things in the back of your mind.

I am visiting my friend Devin in Melbourne this weekend. I realised that it’s actually been almost four years since I last saw her, but I am slightly in denial, because we are definitely not old enough for that!

The moral of the story is, always have something to look forward to.

Day 99: “Treats are like buses…

…they don’t come for ages and then three come at once.”

This weekend I have treats galore.

Tonight, we went to see my housemate Mahalia in the musical ‘Showtrain’. I may be biased but she was undoubtedly the highlight of the show.

Tomorrow arvo i’m seeing my housemates Sabrina, Chloe, Emma and Bianca perform at the Vivid lights show (I don’t have enough words to tell you how exciting it is). Tomorrow night is the other love of my life, Justin Vernon. Yes, that’s right, i’m seeing BON IVER AT THE OPERA HOUSE!!!

And i’ll tell you about Monday later.

Day 74: Talent Quest

The mega upside to living in a house with so many people is that there is so much talent. Monday nights are our one night where we all try to be at home for dinner, and tonight we had a little talent show afterwards. There was singing, a musical number, tap dancing, comedy, poetry, violin and cello pieces. The girls I live with are amazing.

My roommate plays the drums and thankfully (for me) she practices at the conservatorium because she doesn’t have a kit at home. That didn’t stop us from making her play the pots and pans! (Check out the vid)…

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My roommate is mega talented, we made her play the pots and pans because she didn't have a kit! #talent #roommate #Sydney #Australia #music #worldtraveller #musicalfriends #talentedlady

A post shared by Daisy (@thesummerflower) on May 2, 2016 at 5:36am PDT