House 27

Today, we move out of house 27.

It has been 21 years and a ridiculous amount of memories but is now an exciting new chapter for my parents and all the adventures they will experience down in Cornwall.

I will not forget the mud mountains we built at the end of the garden, cracking my head open on the brick wall (thanks Declan), the countless pets that have joined us (and left us - To the new owners, good luck digging up that garden), but mostly the constant business and laughter that was apparent to everyone who came through that blue door.

My home was a welcome one, Mum would love nothing more than to have a table of 20 every time we sat down for dinner - if it wasn't my brother's band members it was school friends, cousins, foster children, uncles and aunties. It was constantly full, especially as the Brannigan family has done nothing but grow, and I loved that.
For me, no matter what craziness was going on in my life I always felt safe, loved and comforted in this house. It was more than somewhere I slept, it was a place I could return to everyday and know there would be love and a roast on the table.
Our parents made this house a home, they raised 5 (proper great) children and continued to welcome others into this home.
Luckily, most of these things can be taken to the new house (as well as a super odd parrot painting that I've never understood), as I am sure it will be constantly full still. I'm heart broken I will never run up my attic stairs to my bedroom, cycle down to my friends houses to knock for them (pre mobile phones) or open that front door ever again, however it is a new start; and a very exciting one.
For those of you who were lucky enough to spend time in this house, I hope you felt as welcome as I did.

Goodbye my forever home.

Happy Birthday

I was scrolling through my Timehop the other day (as I do everyday) and I came across the video from my Nan's 89th birthday. I'm not quite sure how its been a year, but I also feel like its been 10.

For my Nan's 89th birthday we hired sumo suits in our garden and had a sumo competition, which sounds utterly ridiculous, but if you had the pleasure of meeting my nan you would know it was exactly perfect for her. We ate small sandwiches, lots of M&S cakes, drunk a lot of Pimms, sung a song for her and just enjoyed having my nan there. It was absolutely perfect.

Today my Nan would've been 90 years old, and at this time I have spent the past weekend at home with the whole family, spreading her ashes in her favourite place, and having a glorious picnic in the sun. I'm 100% sure my nan would've loved it.

So Happy 90th birthday Nan, I'm sure you are celebrating in style. We all miss you every single day.

The video of the song we did for Nans 89th will be up shortly.

March

"We didn't realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun."

The freezing cold sea washed over my feet and for a split second I thought 'are we crazy? its freezing?!' and then I remembered, yes we are. I had the best day yesterday in Newquay with my flatmates having a go at surfing for the first time, and quite honestly it was bloody freezing but I loved it. Something about the sea is so calming and refreshing, and afterwards with salty faces and freezing toes we laughed about getting changed in the middle of the road and flashing random strangers by accident.

After a walk on the hoe with my flatmate talking about all things great and small, we came to the conclusion that the memories were making now are so important, and as much as I love (and I really do) going out and drinking too much and dancing to god awful music, its days like these that I love the most. Spontaneous days where we jump in the car and go for a drive, get completely lost singing to Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift on full bast laughing at being completely off key. Those nights where we all want nothing more than to eat ice cream and watch 1 star Rom-Coms on Netflix. These are the times I cant wait to look back on and smile, because I'm experiencing them with people I love that's the most important thing.

So here is to another 2 years of trying everything, laughing as much as possible and taking mental pictures of it all.

Update (September-Decemeber 2014)

So in a months time I will have finished my first term of uni. I cannot express how much I love it here. It's crazy to think of how nervous I was just a couple months ago to do placements, assignments and even just to be more independent.
To start, I need to take some time to talk about my flatmates (plus the few extras). I honestly cannot believe how lucky I am to have been put with this lot. They are the craziest people I've ever met (I fit right in). It is so refreshing to be with non-materialistic people, but also having such inspiring and motivated friends around me is such a blessing. The best thing is that we are all at the same point in our lives but have such different backgrounds, some have travelled and seen such amazing things, and some haven't but can tell all the other things they have experienced that I haven't. But it makes it the friendship that much more interesting. I really wouldn't change them for the world. It means I can be completely me in my own home which, obviously, makes everything easier. So I guess a massive thank you for making my uni life so far what it has been. I love you all massively, and cannot wait to move into our (BEAUT) house next year.
It has been rough not being at home with everything going on recently, but my friends have been amazing and its been a good distraction being at uni. However despite the rough couple of months I have had, I have now (almost) completed 3 assignments and 2 weeks placement in my first term. Placement in Newquay was so so amazing, especially as I got to stay with my brother and his family (Queenie kisses in the morning are just the best!), but I also managed to get a sick observation report and teacher report so feel like I'm definitely on the right course!
So I guess this post is just an update for the people who actually care, I'm in such a good place at the moment.

And to all the girls back home - I miss you like crazy! I hope life is good.

A tribute

A tribute to a great lady. To someone who could touch your heart with just one conversation. To someone who I used to be able to tell anything to and for her just to be there for me, and love me no matter what I told her. To the kindest, most loving, gentle person I have ever met. 

Certain things always remind me of her. To this day when I taste a lemon sherbert I always think of her and the pot of them she kept in her glove compartment. Or when I smell hairspray, (due to her very carefully done hair) or even when I hear someone hum. I hope that never changes, I hope I never forget these things.

I can't begin to explain the heartache of loosing someone. Until recently I have never realised how much I looked to my nan for guidance and support. It's until you loose something you realise how valuable it was. And Milly rogers was one of the most valuable things in my life. I know she is with her husband now that she has been without for 35 years, and I know she is happy, but it doesn't make it any easier. If I turn into half the lady she was I'll be lucky.

So this blog post is for her, and for the people reading so that you know that the world just lost a woman who in my eyes shone the brightest, and who I loved the most.

This photo is 4 years old, but I have a serious lack of photos with her. 

Just a quick side note

I love having flowers in my room.
It breathes life into my room full of teenage years. My room full of memories, good and bad, some where I have cried and cried and cried and some where I've laughed so much I couldn't breathe. But I wouldn't change any of them. I love my beautiful friends who are so important to me. I love my amazing family, I love my cat waaay more than I should, I love my home and, I love these flowers. because its fresh, its beautiful and when I wake up and see they have blossomed some more it reminds me that each day I'm growing into who I am, and I'm blossoming into the person I will eventually become, but I know I'm not there yet, I'd be surprised if any 18 year old was.

17

I haven't had a lot of inspiration for this blog until recently, as I've been made to think about my future quite a bit. September is fast approaching and I still don't know where I'll be or what I'll be doing. This worries me a little bit as it seems all my friends know where they are headed. But it did get me thinking that 17 is so young to know where you are going in life, and that I still have so long to discover what I love and take chances.

Maybe its just me not knowing what I want to do, but I feel college is so focused on careers it hasn't encouraged or even let me consider travelling or anything else for that matter, its main focus is getting us into Uni's.

Until now I had my heart set on going to Plymouth UNI to do a primary teaching course specialising in art. I fell in love with Plymouth, being by the sea and nearer Newquay was absolutely ideal, meaning I could see my brother and his family more. I didn't know if I was going to go this year or next year, but I thought maybe somewhere along the line I would go. I then found out the course has now been cancelled, and I was more upset than I thought I would be, I admit I was hovering on going or not but I think in the back of my mind it was an option and if it came to it, I'd love to go.

Because of this I have now started to consider my options. Of course there are other Uni's but I didn't take to them like I did with Plymouth. I think I'm just really picky! Maybe I'll go to South Africa for a couple months like I've always wanted to, or I'll do a nail art course, or I'll work and travel for a couple months. I don't believe in signs as such, but I do believe everything happens for a reason, and maybe the course will run next year and this year gives me a chance to find what I really want to do and give me some more experiences, which I think now is the best time for.
This whole Uni procedure has been so stressful, but has definitely opened my mind to new ideas and thoughts about the future. I have also now realised how much time I have to figure things out, I'm not even out of my teens yet.

As a 17 year old I don't feel like it matters if we don't know what were going to do, I'm so bored of having to come up with answers that make me seem like I know exactly what I'm doing when family friends say 'so what are you doing after college?'. From now on I'm going to say 'I'm not sure, something fun and something I'll enjoy' and really mean it. We don't need to know what's going to happen because it'll all work out, and the possibilities are endless. To be quite honest, I'm excited about the future, absolutely terrified, but excited.

I hope this makes you smile as much as it makes me smile.

                                    
I think this also covers number 3 on my new years resolution list...sort of.