Queen's Guide Award

Those of you who follow me on Twitter may know that I am a member of Senior Section, the senior organisation within Girlguiding UK. Some of you may also know that I am doing a Queen's Guide Award, the most senior award you can attain within the organisation.

But wait, I hear you ask, what is the Queen's Guide Award? And isn't guiding something only 12 year old girls do? Well the short answer is no, Guiding can be done up until your 26th birthday, and thereafter if you wish to become an adult leader. Unfortunately the "reputation" it has for being mostly 12 year olds has made it very difficult to explain what we do to other people, but it's opened so many doors and opportunities for me and I am so proud to be a part of it.

The Queen's Guide Award is comprised of 5 different sections:

1. Service in Guiding. They term this as "providing an active service in guiding at a variety of levels", so pretty much what it says on the tin :) it comprises of 4 elements all designed to challenge you, develop your skills which can then go on your CV and be transferred into the workplace.
2. Outdoor challenge: They term this one as challenging yourself in an outdoor setting, and who wouldn't love roughing it out for 3 nights and 4 days in a camp setting that you yourself have taken the liberty of organising, getting forms, money, doing the Tesco dash? It also involves teamwork, which as I've said is one of the many essential skills you build on and develop whilst doing the award and your exploration!
3. Personal skill and development: this one involves spending 60 hours developing a skill (I'm planning to take up guitar for mine!) Can't wait :)
4. Community action: Again, this one is pretty self explanatory, but it basically comprises of a practical element and a research orientated element, and they can be related (I'm considering doing animal welfare, so I'd be researching this, whilst also volunteering at a local animal shelter, as an example). 
5. Residential experience: this is termed as "developing interpersonal and communication skills in a residential setting", again basically what it says, and I don't know about you but I would think that employers think pretty highly of those with all those skills. :)

I don't know if I've explained it all well enough here, but basically, in summary what this award offers is a whole lot of travelling (currently travelling to France in July for my friend's Queen's Guide Award, after which I will be able to plan my own expedition! eeeep), a whole lot of organisation, and a whole lot of working with people which anyone who knows me will know is right up my street. And to say Guiding as a whole has changed my life for the better (I've met 2 of the people I call best friends nowadays through it) is no exaggeration.

Oh, and did I mention you can complete this award over a maximum of 3 years and that a massssssssive sense of achievement, a welcome addition to your CV and a cheeky trip to one of my personal favourites, LONDON, is your reward?

Oh and this:

:)

D x

2012 in review

These photos are mostly of the past few months of 2012, and to say they absolutely flew by is an understatement! Either way, I learned a lot, there were a lot of very good times, as well as times when I was at my lowest. I succeeded and I failed. I lost a lot, but I hope that what I gained will in the long term be twice as amazing. I did the most important thing I will ever do in my lifetime. I went on an amazing holiday. I made mistake after mistake and I felt constant guilt and regret that was relentless and never seemed to end. I "talked" to someone and although things never worked out he made me ridiculously happy and I learned a lot about me and what I want. I ate some amazing food. I cried and laughed in equal amounts, more than I have in any other year. I learned that no matter how much time passes people will continue to let you down. I also learned (most of the time) not to take things personally although this is a work in progress for me. But overall I prioritised. I realised what and who is most important and who was going to be around for the longterm.

Anyway, that was 2012 for me and I can only imagine that 2013 will bring more of the same. Although it was a tough start to the year for many reasons I hope you all had a good 2012 or at least can see that there was some good to come out of it and that 2013 will bring amazing things for all of you!

D x

Page 2/365

Bonjourno... :)

After having many crises over the past while about this blog, what I want it to be, going mooooooonths without posting and generally making a twat of myself, I am finally renovating this blog and well, what better way to begin than on a new year? (well almost)

Now, I realise that redoing all my posts means an awkward but ever so necessary "About me" introductory post is required, so I am going to start with 25 little facts about me!

1. For the first and perhaps most obvious fact, my name is Dara (and don't tell me it's a boy's name or you'll be losing your front teeth, IT'S UNISEX).

2. I have lived in Belfast for the past 10/11 years and honestly, I love the fast pace of life that living and being a student at university in such a unique city brings. We may not have been in the news for the right reasons in recent weeks, and it's a very unique situation, but basically, Northern Ireland is a beautiful place, and it will always be home to me.

3. I adore animals, more than anyone will ever understand, and I genuinely will never understand anyone who doesn't. I own a cat myself (although I'm undecided between them and dogs). She is a pampered wee madam who answers to the name of Katie (or Kit kat, apparently), and to have her wee face and purrs and cuddles to come home to every evening will always be the best part of any day for me.
out

4. If you know me, you will know I'm fairly blunt and honest (without crossing the point to plain downright rudeness, of course), and unfortunately it isn't always popular.

5. I'm in the second year of an English degree at Queen's University Belfast, mostly for reasons of a not-knowing-what-else-to-do-with-my-life-apart-from-writing-travelling-and-educating-myself-further nature.

6. I couldn't see for the first 7 months of my life.

7. One of the best things that's happened me in recent months is simply being told what a good friend I am by someone who knows. It's the simple things and knowing that my presence and the amount I care about and the amount I do for my loved ones is appreciated and not always overlooked or taken for granted.

8. I'm not an overly lucky person, but when it comes to my friends, family and colleagues I do appear to have gotten lucky to have met genuine, honest people (you all know who you are). I often have to remind myself that there's good and bad in everyone, and I do consider myself a good judge of character. If you are a decent person, I will see that and I will overlook your shortcomings knowing that you're an all round good'un. By that token I hope people do the same for me

9. Lately I've come to realise how much I do actually enjoy my job, for the most part anyway, and I'm very lucky to have it. I work as an administrator for a specialist pension planning company in Belfast and ah I love it. Doing the likes of cashflows and scheme returns (which involve working with numbers) is a welcome contrast from my English degree, and having brilliant colleagues (and 93846578 mugs of tea a day) definitely help! The best part is that I will hopefully be able to stay on in the job after I graduate and can do it full time (I'm there as a part timer at the minute because I'm at uni), which is kind of demotivating when it comes to my degree. Getting the balance is definitely tough but what can you do?

10. The song that was number 1 the day I was born (2 May 1993) was All that she wants by Ace of Base. And I just so happen to really like that song :)

11. I don't really get the whole fascination with celebrity culture. They're people just like the rest of us! I support genuinely talented people who deserve to be recognised for what they do, not people who are famous for doing sod all like a lot of celebs I could mention these days!

12. My favourite film is James Cameron's version of Titanic. Something about it has just stuck with me even though other films have came, gone and been forgotten.

13. When I was 16, I picked up a book for the first time to read called The Great Gatsby and within the year I did it for A-Level at school, it worked it's way to my all time favourite book.

14. My favourite band are probably You me at Six. I've had many musical obsessions and phases over the years and again this band are just one that have stuck with me.

15. My favourite TV show is probably Friends and it needs no explanation as to why. And since it's not being made anymore (I don't have Comedy Central boo), the only other one I really religiously watch and have connected to is Hollyoaks.

16. In other Friends related posts, I could actually really see myself relating to Monica Geller. I adore her apartment, and I could see myself easily being the hostess with 11 towel categories, a ribbon drawer and numbered mugs. Nothing would make me happier in fact.

17. I have always been fiercely independent. One of my favourite songs is Independent Women by Destiny's Child and I don't really think I need to explain why. Aside from the odd bit of help from the parents, everything I do for myself I do with my own money. I pay my own bills, fund my own car, and look after my cat who is happy and healthy. I've worked my ass off for everything I have (as cliche as it sounds), and I learned the value of money a long time ago and yeah.

18. Despite that, I could actually see myself being really happy as a housewife. Who knows, perhaps I'll spend my 20's as a career woman and be ready to settle down, have 8 kids and spend my days cooking, cleaning and baking soda bread by the time I'm in my 30's and beyond?

19. Unfortunately I never really enjoyed school, for a lot of reasons, and the day I graduated it was the best day of my life.

20.  The day I graduated school also happens to be the day I passed my driving test. Driving has been amazing and has given me so much flexibility and freedom. It isn't cheap, of course, but you can't put a price on the freedom to go wherever you want whenever you want.

21. I'm 90% sure I don't want children

22. Despite that, I do still believe in love, and even in 2013 I believe humans are still capable of it, and I'm 90% sure I do want to meet someone amazing and get married.

23. I had my first kiss when I was 13

24. My first concert was Nickelback (I WAS 15 DON'T JUDGE ME)

25. I prefer colder temperatures to hot but lately I've been finding myself longing for the warmer months and a bit of sunshine. I fear I may be becoming normal!

Oh and there's my face. I hope you all enjoyed reading this (God knows I enjoy reading other people's, although I'm hoping this isn't going to turn into a personal blog, as I'm really not that interesting). I hope to post a varied range of music/food/beauty/fashion/lifestyle posts, with the odd review and the odd personal post/rant. I really hope you all enjoy reading and won't be strangers, please feel free to comment!

D x