My 2008 (Looking Back at 2008)

Member Name: bluejules

Product:	Looking Back at 2008
Date:	21/02/09 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Best year of my life

Disadvantages: *

It's been a while since I've written a review so I thought I'd write about my 2008 and hopefully this will get me writing again. I know it's February now but I have written about my 2006 and my 2007 in previous years so I think it would be nice to write about 2008 too. My first review of the year!...

In January, I had my first university exams. I had left my revision quite last minute (a few weeks before the 4 week Christmas break so I was only revising for them for 6 weeks) and had assignments to complete too so it was very stressful. I had five exams and was convinced I had failed them all as they were all so difficult. Fortunately, I passed everything except one exam - which I resat and past in August.

In February, my eldest nephew turned 11 and one of my uncle's (mam's brother) turned 50. To celebrate my Uncle Stephen's 50th we went to Krakow, Poland (me, my parents and my auntie and uncle) We went for a long weekend - Friday-Monday- and it was really nice :)

In March, my grandparents celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary (50 years). We all went for a meal (my parents, grandparents, my sister and brother-in-law and me). Also, the actual day of their anniversary fell on a weekday and it was the Easter holidays from university so we had a little 'surprise' tea party during the day. We had lots of decorations and photos from when they were young (my dad managed to borrow the old photos from their house without them noticing - he also made them a photo book dating from their wedding day right through their 50 years of marriage. They both loved this very much) One of my best friends, Emma and my sister and niece also came to our house for the tea party and we all had a lovely day.

I finished my first year of uni in May and I also turned 19. I went bowling the day before my birthday with my parents, sister and both of my nephews and then I went out for a meal on the night of my birthday with 3 of my friends. One of my cousins gave birth to twin girls.

In June, my youngest nephew, Dominick turned 9 and I also went on my first date! I went to the beach with Liam (who I met 5 years previously when we were both St John Ambulance Cadets - we lost touch and found each other on facebook lol) and we got on really well.

I went to Spain with my parents for a week in Spain and it was really nice. I also started pub quizzing with one of my best friends, Rach and we went pretty much every week throughout the summer (Emma and Liam came sometimes too and Joanne and Craig came on one occasion) I really enjoyed pub quizzing but unfortunately we are yet to win the £100 cash prize!

I also had a British Sign Language exam in June, in which I had to sign for 7 minutes about food and drink with my tutor. The time flew and although I thought I hadn't done very well I later found out that I passed!

In July, my niece Toni (then 2) stayed with me for two nights. My parents were at work during the day so I took her out and about to the park etc. We also made cakes and drew lots of pictures. I enjoyed these two days very much and hope she'll stay with me again this summer :) Darius stayed with me the week after Toni and he stayed for 5 nights. We had lots of fun and I loved acting like a (responsible) big kid! We went to Woodhorn Museum, the park, swimming and we visited my grandparents and drew lots of Dr who related pictures! (he's still a huge Dr Who fan!!)

I went to see Kylie X2008 at the metro radio arena in Newcastle, with my cousin and some of her friends. My cousin Sam, lives nearer the arena than me so I stayed at her house after the concert (which was brilliant!) and then we went shopping to the Metro Centre the next day! It was great fun and a lovely opportunity to see my auntie, uncle and cousins who I don't see as often as I'd like :)

Every year, our family have a get together and all my aunties, uncles and cousins gather in my Uncle Stephen's back garden. We have a bouncy castle and I get to act like a kid all day while seeing all my family :) unfortunately, this was the first get together that I felt like I may be too old for the bouncy castle so I wasn't on it as much as I usually am! It was still a very enjoyable day had by all.

In August, I went to France for 2 nights with my dad and we stayed with his friends in their house in a beautiful village in the South of France. There was a festival on at the time and there was a lovely firework display on the night we arrived. The weather was lovely and it was a wonderful couple of days away.

Toni turned 3 in August and she made it to the final of the Bonny Bairns competition in the local newspaper. It was Dom's turn to stay with me in August and he stayed for 3 nights (he gets more home sick than Darius) and we had lots of fun together. We did pretty much the same activities as I had done with Darius but we also made cakes and went for a walk around the local lake :)

In September I left my weekend job (a receptionist at a car dealer) ready for going back to uni. I had been working mornings throughout the four weeks leading up to me leaving as there was lots of overtime available. I trained the new morning receptionist and the weekend receptionist before I left. I still work there when they need someone to cover the odd shift and I'm free. I've actually done at least one shift every month since I left so I've still been getting some money :) I also cover the weekend receptionist holidays.

I went to France again, with my parents for a long weekend before I went back to uni. It was a lovely end to my wonderful summer, but unfortunately the weather wasn't as good as it had been in august.

In October, I went to the Lake District (Windermere) with Liam for a weekend as he left for the Navy in November. Liam drove and we stayed in a B&B in Windermere (Friday-Sunday) We both really enjoyed it, we went to the Beatrice Potter museum and did some shopping :)

I also started my first placement, with university, in the Literacy clinic at the university, working with a child with Asperger's Syndrome and language difficulties. I enjoyed it overall but not as much as I thought I would.

I went to see Alphabeat with Rach and one of my uni friends at the Student Union in Newcastle. It was absolutely brilliant!! This was the week before Rach moved down to Milton Keynes to live with her boyfriend (I'm going to visit her in April!! :)

In November, Liam left for HMS Raleigh in the Royal Navy and I was really upset but I'd known all summer that it was going to happen. He phoned me at least once a week and he text me sometimes too.

My big sister, Joanne, turned 30 in November and she went to London with her husband to celebrate and we looked after the kids for the weekend. She also had a party which was one of the best nights ever!! We went shopping for party dresses a few weeks before the party (we left it as long as possible as we were both following the Slimming World plan and were still losing weight - we've both done really well - I've lost a stone and a half and am now at my ideal weight and Joanne has dropped 2 dress sizes and is still doing well)

We got loads of photos of the party and we both had so much fun! I helped her decorate the room with balloons, banners and photos of her (some of them with me) when she was younger. My mam and dad helped too! :) Neither of us wanted the night to end as it was just so brilliant!!

In December, I had another BSL exam, this time I had to watch a DVD and answer some questions. I passed this with full marks!!

When Liam came back for Christmas I saw him a couple of times but we decided that it would be best if we broke up as he's going to be away a lot. I was obviously upset but I still had a lovely Christmas and New Year with my family. My grandma and grandad came for Christmas dinner and Joanne, Craig and the kids came for Boxing Day and New Year's day. I also went out with my friends quite a bit over the Christmas holidays.

I was working towards my exams throughout the Christmas holidays as I had exams when I went back in January.

2008 was a really good year for me. Writing this review has made me realise just how much happened last year and how much I achieved. I had a brilliant summer with my friends and family (and Liam) and I passed my first year at university. I also feel loads more confident. I'm happy that I left my weekend job too as it has made me less stressed with uni being so busy!

Thanks for reading! Sorry it's so long!! Here's hoping 2009 is a good year for us all! xxx

Summary: My personal review of 2008