Let the studying commence!

This will be my last post for a while now, studying for a BA in Community and Youth Studies has now begun!  I am in the final year of the degree and I am doing this on top of my full-time job as a Voice and Influence Forum Worker at Hull Youth Council.  This does not leave me with much time for blogging and my artwork, which really bugs me but I have no choice but to get on with the first part of the semester.  I am aiming to get back into the artwork during the Christmas break and I will keep adding photos to my Flickr  :-)

It is so hard to get back into the books when all I can see is Neo my cat snoozing on her favourite puff! x

Blink Bonny Wood

Hello Peeps!  I cannot believe we are already halfway through September.  My printer is still unwell, so my new art print is still not ready. I have been busy enrolling at Hull University to do a top up degree in Community and Youth Studies, including working on three new illustrations which I hope to get out soon.

At the end of August, UK bank holiday weekend my husband and I went on another little camping trip, this time we stayed at Blink Bonny Wood on the edge of the Lammermuir hills in Scotland.  This is a very secluded campsite and has very basic bathroom facilities, including one compost toilet (which took me a while to get used to, as I was paranoid that something was going to bite my bum! ) and no shower facilities just bottled water.  The bonus is that you get your own little camping area in the wood, including your own fire pit! No cars are also allowed on the site, you have to abandon your car at the entrance which is about a 10 min walk from the campsite down a muddy lane.  This means that you need to bring a trolley to carry all your stuff! This we forgot and the kind owner offered us a wheel barrow and commented that we had more stuff than a family of four who had camped there the previous week!

This campsite is also a good base if you like a bit of retail therapy, people, buildings and cafe culture as Edinburgh is only a 30 minute drive away. I have been to Edinburgh a few times before so when the bad weather arrived, we decided to adventure around Edinburgh's charity shops and I bought a lovely red knitted hat for the coming winter months from Oxfam.  

Here are some photos from our camping adventure!

Our camping breakfast!

This photo was taken just after we set up camp.

Back to basics.

Camping fodder!

Al my husband going for a little wander.

I wondered what was on the other side? 

Although the bridge looked a bit delicate.

A lovely handcrafted shed. 

The campsite shop where I bought two handmade bug boxes.

A mushroom soaking up the morning due. 

The compost toilet!

The woods behind our tent.  

The forest fern smelt amazing after it had rained!

A Scottish Thistle and a bee searching for some pollen.

Lush plants and textures!

A fairyland mushroom!

Bye for now! xx

Skyride

Today my friends, husband and I took part in the Skyride in Hull and it was the most beautiful day.  Skyride is a national campaign from Sky and British Cycling created to inspire everyone whatever their age or ability to get on their bikes. This includes an aim to get 1 million people cycling regularly by 2013.    

Skyride closed off the streets to motorists between 10am - 4pm so cyclists could cycle freely around the city centre.  It was a great way to spend a sunny Sunday with friends, explore the city centre of Hull including such places as The Deep,  shared with a few drinks at the end of the day at Fruit and Pave :-)

Skyride at Queens Gardens, Hull

My husband Al, looking cool waiting for his bike to be coded by the Police.

My friend Matt riding on his friends custom long wheel base low rider.

I think the overall message from the day was, get on your bike, its free and good for you :-)