Shining on in to 2013

Merry Christmas one and all!

Hope you all had a magical Christmas and all still feeling all bright and bubbly after all the festivities of the past week!
In the days between Christmas and New Year, normally have to be dragged kicking and screaming back to the real world of work and the everyday but this year I Have done it with such ease and a spring in my step (I even went to the gym last night!) This year feels so different to last year. My 2012 has been, lets say....................... up and down from day one. One lesson i have learnt is that, comfort doesn't always mean security. This goes for the 2 halves of my year - The bad half, having the ground swiped from under my feet. Then the good half -  I have never felt so secure in my life than I do at the moment I am following my dream of studying English Literature at university, I have a good job with good prospects for the future, I am surrounding my self and my life with positive people who bring out the best in me and as I've been told by people; I've got my sparkle back! While all this might sound outrageously selfish and self centred but like i say after the 2012 I have had I have one thing to say to that - I don't care! I deserve it! It is all about me from now on in my life! I am finding MY path now. Even if it does mean treading that path alone for a long time! I am well and truly ready to shine on in to 2013.

Surely like me you will maybe have a general idea of some New Years resolutions?? I bucked the trend of a lifetime last year and didn't officially make any, while it might not have started well, from July 2012 onwards it really was quite bright so I am going to make a tradition out of this and not make any for 2013. Don't get me wrong, I have hopes and dreams for the year but for now I'm just excited to see where my path leads me!

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!

x

  

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas and magical new year!

That time of year already??

Don't get me wrong, I love this time of year, in fact i challenge you to find someone who is as excited about Christmas as me so forgive me if my title suggests other wise, it is just that Christmas 2012 has crept up on me like Sebastian Vettel would do after a can of Red Bull  (sorry i had to get one reference in there) It really is just as if i came up for air in the past fortnight after finishing my essays before December and realised that the shops were full of the sounds of Slade and The Pogues. Where has 2012 actually gone?????  It doesn't seems like 2 minutes ago i was sunning myself in front of Goodwood House eating lunch with Merrick listening to the beautiful sounds of cars head out on track while watching The Red Arrows fly overhead, quite frankly my favourite moment of 2012.

There is nothing i love more at this time of year than walking round an ice cold city getting lost in the stalls of a German Christmas market. If there is an activity as christmassy as this then i sure as don't know about it! There is something about the intoxicating aroma of mulled wine, baked apples and roasting chestnuts that sends my soul to another place. I am automatically transported from Leeds Millennium square to Cologne or Frankfurt. Oh if only!!!

Thanks to our supermarkets jumping on the Christmas bandwagon earlier and earlier every year (I'm sure i saw Christmas products in certain shops in August/September it really does puzzle me how this festive season still seems to creep up on us all Yet Brits seem stuck in the Keep calm and Carry on" way of life to enjoy the best time of year before we really should. Why does it have to be December and no earlier before as a nation we actually acknowledge its existence?? It's as if it gets to the 1st of December and we all jump out of the blocks as fast as Usain Bolt to the nearest shopping centre to crawl our way round rubbing shoulders and standing on the heels of  ever other Tom, Dick or Harry who has had the same brainwave. Why are we reluctant to allow ourselves to get in to the festive mood a bit earlier? We spend the rest of the year dragging ourselves through the normal 9-5 being fed news of tax increases, soaring petrol costs and corrupt politicians - Isn't it fair to give ourselves as much of the festive season as we can? We owe it to ourselves!!

I'm 23 and still welcome christmas with open arms like a young child. Inside of me there will always be the happy long haired girl who loves nothing more than seeing christmas trees covered in lights and the Coca cola advert on tv. While this year is going to be a bit different to the past 6yrs, i am going to throw myself in to the warmth of my family and celebrate with my loved ones!

23 days to go everyone!!!!

Sophie
x    

   

New beginnings

Firstly i need to apologise for disappearing off the face of the earth for the last few months. My life as taken a different turn. Quite frankly i am so darn happy. Happier than i have been in a long time. I have my purpose back again!

I am now an English Literature student of Sheffield Hallam University. I can officially say this without wanting to tear my hair out at the moment as I'm fully up to date with all reading and essay free for the time being. 3 months in and I'm absolutely loving it. Anyone who knows me will know that this has long since been a high rider on my life to-do list, so for it t be a reality is something amazing! While it might be hard work with a LOT of reading, i really do have to keep pinching myself that I've found myself in the uni I've always want to go to, studying the course I've always wanted to do. It has all happened so quickly. After a chat over a coffee with a good friend about what life at hallam was like to a last minute phone call on clearing day, to an interview to then start lectures 2 weeks later. I have really haven't had time to take everything in since the day of my interview.

It might sound like an obvious comment but WOW there is a lot of reading to do! 3 modules a semester so this normally means 3 books to read a week (Sometimes more) most of it is good and i do admit to loving a debate about it afterwards but some books just seem to weigh you down - the bad boy I'm talking about is Bleak House. 60+ chapters that i currently find myself drowning in. This door stop of a novel is the topic of my first university exam in January, but also the first exam i have faced in 6 and a half years. I will discuss my nerves about that another time. 

I have spent many train rides home thinking about my decision to finally go for my degree at 23. Thinking back on the past 3 months, i can happily say that it is the best decision i have ever made. I have finally found my way back to the place i always wanted to be and after a couple of soul destroying years of feeling like i was at rock bottom, i now feel like a new me and believe that i am where i am meant to be.  

Right, back to Bleak House i go. 

More stories of an English Literature student to follow over the coming weeks, months and years

Sophie

x 

Dan Wheldon - Someone to watch over them

I am typing this on the 26th May 2012 which for many is probably just the start of a sunshine and BBQ filled weekend but in the world of the petrol head (Myself included) it is the start of a weekend of motor sport which feature 2 of the most highly anticipated and prestigious races on the motor sport calendar; Monaco F1 Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. While the Monaco Grand Prix has always had a huge following for being the jewel in the F1 crown. Indianapolis 500 is only just getting the name it truly deserves in the UK. While Indy car is hugely popular in America, we have only been able to watch the races in the past few years as Sky sports expanded their channel portfolio.

The Indianapolis 500 which is often billed as "the Greatest spectacle in racing" consists of 200 laps of a 2.5mile oval circuit with a grid of 33 racers from Indycar and other series of open cockpit and open wheel racing.

In recent years the boys flying the flag for us have been holding their own against the Americans. Dario Franchitti is the reigning 4 time IndyCar series champion and 2 times Indy 500 winner who doesn't show any signs of stopping any time soon (At the time of publishing this blog, Franchitti had set the fastest time in final practice for the 2012 Indy 500) 

Darrio Franchitti and Dan Wheldon

Dan Wheldon was another one of our home stars who had made a hugely successful name for himself over the pond and had become one of most popular drivers in the series. This time last year he had just notched up his 2nd Indy 500 win and although he was without a full time drive he acted as a test driver for the sport working to develop the 2012 season chassis and car to improve safety.  He continued to be a constant part of the paddock ready to take his place in the car when ever needed. That opportunity came in Las Vegas last October when he was set a challenge of getting from the back of the grid to take the flag to win a $5 Million prize to be shared with a ticket holder of his choice. Concern had been raised the days before the race over both the reliability of the 1.5mile long track for such a large field and also the incentive of the prize money of which Wheldon was the only one to accept. 

The sport was already in a state of celebration after Sebastian Vettel had secured his 2nd world title earlier that day in Japan. So the IndyCar finale promised another title crowning for Dario Franchitti or Will Power. As the race started Dan made his way through the field of 34 in a desperate bid to win the $5 million prize. Unfortunately Tragedy struck on lap 11 when a crash occurred which spiralled out of control and ended up taking out half of the 34 field in the chaos. Unfortunately Dan had been caught up in the accident and was catapulted in to the fencing. He was airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. After a full post mortem, it was found that the cause of death was blunt trauma to the head. 

Dan left behind a loving wife and 2 young sons. 

Dan, his wife sussie and sons, Oliver and Sebastian at the 2011 Indy 500

As a long time fan of numerous forms of motorsport and also having the honour of seeing Dan at the Goodwood festival only in the July, his death hit very hard for not only me but many friends. It acted as a warning to us that motorsport will always be dangerous -  These things still can happen and  more than likely always will while the sport continues to aims for higher speeds, slicker aerodynamics and faster tracks without continuous development of new safety measures

The purpose of this blog entry isn't to upset. It is a post of remembrance to Dan on what was sure to be one of his favourite weekends of the racing year. It is a celebration of a born racer who was one of the lucky ones who got to leave this world doing something he was born to do.  Not many of us will get that privilege but Dan was one of the special ones. 

From reading numerous reports, Dan's presence is being felt at the Indianapolis speed way in very special ways. Earlier this year it was announced that a photo of Dan would be printed on every admission ticket to the race day event and each visitor would be given a pair of white sunglasses to celebrate Dan's unique style. Dan is in fact smiling down on everyone in attendance at the brickyard, on entry in the brickyard circuit his image adorns a huge banner, welcoming the visitors in a way only Dan could with that beautiful smile of his. 

A part of Dan will be with everyone one of the drivers at the starting grid tomorrow as it will be for every race in the series. The work he did in 2011 developing this years car has all come together in the form of the DW12 Dallara chassis. A continuing memorial of Dan to show he is still very much at the centre of the sport.

As the race gets ever closer, I as one of the millions of other fans who still can't quite believe that he's gone. I like to think that Dan will be smiling down on all the drivers tomorrow, cheering them on and keeping them safe. At an event that he loved so much and made his mark upon, how could he not? 

Enjoy the race Dan!

Style icons and fairy tales

Hello all. 

I have taken the step to further expand my reach in to the world wide web and seem to after many hours of looking for the latest platform to voice my ramblings from. I stumbled across this site and knew it had to be done. I am known for chatting at length about most things so after many huge phone bills (of my own and others) I thought it best to take the free option and voila here i am! Sometimes 140 characters just isn't enough!

I treated myself to a much need trip to Meadowhall for some retail therapy of the highest concentration today to relieve some stress of what is probably best described as a "bumpy" few weeks. What followed was a good 4 hours of window shopping while planning outfits for my annual trip to the Goodwood Festival of Speed that is now only about 5 weeks away. While this extreme forward planning may seem strange to most, a girl has got to look good when in the presence of motor sport royalty at the motor sport world's equivalent to Ascot and the Henley Regatta. While i am not planning to don a facinator for the weekend, it did get me thinking of fashion icons at the moment.
 I am guilty of jumping on the Kate Middleton Bandwagon and going crazy for the inspired pieces on our high street such as the Blue "Honeymoon" dress, LK Bennett wedges and the many Reiss pieces she's worn that seem to sell out within seconds of any glimpse of the Duchess wearing them.  Then again who can blame us after witnessing her walk down the isle in the breath taking Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen masterpiece.

Fit for a Princess

The new "Kate effect" can only be a good thing for our Fashion industry as Kate has effectively become an ambassador for British Labels  and British fashion scene taking us back to a more Elegant, Chic and Sophisticated  image that in my view had disappeared recently. I am yet to see her grace the pages of a fashion mag looking anything other than fabulous. In my opinion a more than worthy style icon for us all to follow. Her are some of my favourite Kate looks. 

A possible explanation as to why people such as myself believe she is such an icon to women around the world is that i think somewhere hidden inside the heart of every woman is a little girl who spent her childhood with Disney fairy tales, princess costumes and toy castles who is always on the look out for her Prince Charming. The love story of The Duke and Duchess proves that fairy tales do exist in the real world. So, my inner little princess in waiting is happy to wait a while longer for her Prince Chaming to come along. 

Me thinks this blogging Malarkey could become quite addictive! So until next time!

Ciao!  

BTW. I've decided to go with the 2nd of my fave Kate looks for at least 1 day of the Festival of Speed. Now what to wear for the other 3?