Busy busy busy

                                              

                                              

                                                                  Seems fitting

 

So much has happened in the past 11 months and I will try to remember it all or most or some.  Ok, the major parts. 

I finally had my graduation!  2 years late, but at least it finally happened!  Mom was able to come so it was even better.  While mom was here she got to meet my supervisors for the real job and my anatomy job.  She met some friends, but most importantly she finally met the boyfriend and his family.  He gained the title of 'Mom Approved' so all good there.  We visited so many places while she was here and did so much that it made the time fly by, but graduation was amazing.  I am ready for mom to come back...next summer!  

  Take your mom to work day!  

  Mom's first visit to one of the Ports

The next major event, I got to give some online lectures for the med school.  I really enjoyed it and one of the lectures earned 5 stars from the students.  It was great.  

Then came my favorite time of year, the 12th!  It was in a different town but it was still good.  I just love the music and all the banners.  

My birthday came around and I went to see my first live professional comedian, Jason Manford.  He was hilarious.  The boyfriend spoiled me that day and bought me tickets to see Six!  I was so excited.  So we went to Six! in August.  Absolutely amazing.  If it is in a town near you, do go see it.  If you have epilepsy, do take some medication and caution while seeing it!  It was totally worth that extra seizure tablet.  

      

In September, sadly the Queen died.  Sadness drapped over this country.  It was heart breaking to see especially after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee in June.  The boyfriend and I had booked a trip to Scotland before her passing and her funeral happened on the last full day of our trip.  We went to Scotland by the ferry- mainly for the anatomy exhibt on the history of anatomy and cadavers.  I must say I have one of the most amazing, understanding, and tolerable boyfriend ever.  Our trips away so far have centered around anatomy.  Poor guy.  Maybe the next trip will be focused on something else.  While in Scotland we visited Livingston, Dundee, and Edingburgh.  Livingston was amazing and shocked us both. You would almost need a day or two to spend in the two malls. I had gluten free Mexican Food- first time for fajitas and it was amazing! We went to Dundee where I got to show him my old university and find out that the original Henry's was not as good as it once was, but the new Henry's was better. And then on to the exhibit. Loved it and I loved seeing the actual skeleton of Burke (from Burke And Hare Edinburgh grave robbers). We ventured to some of the small town and Queensferry was quite nice. On the way back to the ferry we stopped off at the Robert Burns' museum to have a quick cup of coffee. I was also able to buy some gluten free food that I cannot get here. Overall, a very successful trip and a nice break away.

 

In October, I was able to go to my first real conference in Italy!  The medical school sponsored me to go and learn about the Anatomage Table and attend the conference. I made some really cool friends and one of them can say that really long name in Wales.  I may or may not have recorded it.   I really did learn alot, and have a new appreciation for the table.  I could not wait to get back to show the students what we had learned.  I was in Heaven when we went to the Bone Church.  I stood there surrounded by real human bones, looking at my new friends, I thought to myself- these are my people, I am not the only weirdo in the world who had a goal in life to go here.  I had an amazing coffee- honey coffee and it was absolutely one of the best coffees I have ever had. I was able to have gluten free pizza and gelato in Italy and that crossed a few things off my bucket list.   

        

When I came back it was the boyfriend's birthday!  For his birthday he got a chocolate truffle making class.  It was something different and really fun.  We walked away with a lot of really good chocolate.  We also went to see DC's Black Adam which was good.  He did get his very first cookie cake for his birthday cake.  I ended up making it- suprisingly it was not burned just a bit dry.  :P 

      

In all the years I have been here I have tried, I don't know how many times, to make coffee creamer.  Well now, I can proudly say I think I have finally done it.  Happiness in a cup.  I do miss my niece who would drink creamer with me while I drink coffee.  Good times.

For Halloween we had a pumpkin carving contest- and let me say carving a pumpkin is a lot harder than dissecting a cadaver.  Same with sewing.  It is much easier to sew a body than it is to sew a button or a hem on a pair of pants.   My pumpkin had Groot on it and his had the Death Star and a cat.  His won.  Give me a cadaver any day.  :D  

That is the major events for now or at least the ones I can remember.  Hopefully, I will update sooner rather than later. Thanksgiving is coming up and Christmas.  I am here for Christmas again due to my contract ending in the summer.  Maybe one day I will get home for Christmas but I am thankful for the boyfriend's family accepting me and taking me in.  Maybe this year I can win back some of my 10p coins at Bingo :D  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas.