Wednesday 22 August 2012

sick and tired


I am so sick of being sick and tired. After having only 2 hours sleep last night, I booked the afternoon off work so I could come home and do nothing at all. I bought some of my favourite foods (Kettle Chips, raspberries, strawberry milkshake and Milky Bar) and actually made the time to sit down and read a book! I haven't read a book in so long and I've really missed it.

I've heard good things about Bill Bryson from my mum so I'm looking forward to reading the book Down Under. I'll be sure to do a cheeky review once it's done. I have so many books that I have bought but not had the time to read. I need to make the time.

In other news, today I got a call from my doctors to arrange a date for a minor surgery. As you may have seen in some of my outfit posts, I have a birth mark on my left arm. I am really self conscious about it so I'm pleased I can finally get it removed.


Tuesday 21 August 2012

you can't sleep? me either, let's can't sleep together


Tee [old] - Topshop

At the moment I feel so tired that I think my bags look like I've been punched in the face. They don't actually look too bad in the picture but I think I look unwell and tired.
Like a lot of people, I have trouble sleeping. I wake up tired and spend the whole day being tired. In fact, the only time I start to feel awake is when I should be settling down to sleep and because I feel awake I start watching CSI or writing lists or doing something on my 'to-do' list. Before I know it my alarm is set for only 4 or 5 hours time. It's ridiculous.

I've worked out that it is roughly every 4 weeks that I have to book a half day at work because I'm feeling so exhausted. I work full time, go out too much and don't sleep enough. I miss the days where my Sunday's used to mean staying in bed pretty much all day, watching films and reading.
I am now trying to make an effort to change these bad habits. I have a lot to do in the next few months and I need to make the most of my day instead or being sluggish and useless. I am making the effort to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. I know it's meant to be 8, ideally I'd like 9, but I think for now this is something I can manage. I've also found a few things that help me settle down:

My friend Tara told me about the Relax & Rest app when I went to visit her in Norway. I think it's meant to be for meditation but you can change the settings about a bit. At the moment I go to sleep to the sound of crashing waves - I realise this makes me sound like a freak.

I am also trying to avoid my computer late at night; there is always something to distract me. I also keep a note pad near me when I'm sleeping. I always have random thoughts pop in to my head about what I need to do the following day or something I need to book up. I write them down so I know I will remember and I don't have to worry about forgetting.

Do you have any tips that help you sleep?

Thursday 16 August 2012

a light heart lives long


A little while ago I posted about Yankee Candle samplers [here]. The candles I bought in the previous post cost £1.75 each from Clintons. I have now found the same size candle in Asda for £1 each. As they are a bit of a bargain, I thought I'd share it all with you.

Monday 13 August 2012

this really is great britain


Well, I don't know about you but I have a massive sense of pride after the last few weeks! Not only have our athletes done amazingly well and received so many medals, but I think that London has been a brilliant host to the games and I am so proud to have been a part of it!
My story starts in Darwin, Australia in 2010. After a short call home to my parents and being reminded of the closing date to apply, I spent an hour or so in a small internet cafe completing the application form. I then carried on with my travels and returned home at the end of 2010, forgetting I'd even applied along the way. 200,000 people applied and I was one of 100,000 that were asked to an interview, mine in January 2011. I still remember my first interview and the buzz that was in the air with the opportunity of being part of history. I soon found out that I was one of 70,000 successful applicants and that I would be part of the Olympics. I had to attend various training days and test events to learn my role and the safety procedures. 
I was on the Technology Team at the ExCeL working behind Fencing and Taekwondo. At first I wasn't too thrilled about the sports I was going to be involved with but I got to learn something new about two sports I didn't know much about. By the end of my shifts I was able to understand the rules enough to enjoy watching the sports. I really enjoyed watching Team GB Men's Team in Fencing and I got to see Jade Jones win the first ever medal for Team GB in Taekwondo, which happened to be one of our many golds! What an amazing night that was!

I worked for 9 out of the 16 days, some days starting at 7:45am and some days finishing gone midnight. I'd work between 6 and 10 hours a day and I'd be on my feet taking results to different parts of the ExCeL all day. I've never been so tired before but it really has been an amazing experience and I would do it all over again.
It's hard to sum up my time as a Game Maker in a few (or many) words. The experience was priceless and one that I will remember forever. I never thought I'd get emotional over sports, but I have basically spent the last two weeks teary eyed or crying because the atmosphere was so overwhelming. I got to meet some interesting and brilliant people that I would never usually be able to meet. I've met some new friends who I'm sure I'll be meeting up with again soon. I've had the time of my life.
At the beginning of the Olympics there was so much negativity towards it, some people didn't really understand why I'd give up my annual leave and spare time to work and not get paid. I'd respond with "it'll look good on my CV" or "it gets me out of work" but what an amazing experience to volunteer for your country on one of the biggest events ever. I'm so proud that I was a volunteer for London 2012 and part of history! If I had the opportunity, I would do it all over again. I absolutely loved watching the Closing Ceremony and I actually cried my eyes out when good old Seb Coe mentioned how well the Games Makers had done and the applause went on and on and on. I think it was at that point that I realised what I had actually been doing and what it meant to be part of the Olympics.

I have now packed all my Game Maker uniform and gifts we received in to a vacuum pack bag for safe keeping. A lot of the uniform, pins and 'thank you' presents have appeared on eBay, but I will be keeping mine. On my application form I said that I would be interested in working at the Paralympics, but I have not been asked to. In a way I am pleased so I can now enjoy watching as much of the Paralympics as possible and I'm hoping to get tickets for anything, just so I can experience being a part of the crowds. I really hope that the Paralympics are as successful as the Olympics because I think sometimes in previous years they can be forgotten about which is so wrong. The adverts Channel 4 have for the Paralympics make me think they are going to be brilliant. - "Thanks for the warm-up".

Wednesday 8 August 2012

get up, stand up



This past week has been hectic, but in a good way. I've been working at the Olympics as well as my normal job and trying to check off as much of my 'to-do' list as possible. I don't think I've ever been this tired before, but it's all totally worth it.

On Saturday I had a day off from the Olympics, which worked out well because it was my friend's 30th birthday. We went to Jongleurs in Covent Garden for dinner and a comedy night, which I'd recommend. The Thai Green Curry was lovely and the cocktails are half price from 5-10pm, what more could you ask for! Sadly, I had to leave after the first comedian because I had a really early start on Sunday - I was in London by 7:30am! The first comedian was really funny and I've been told they only got better as the night went on.

This is what I wore for the evening. I usually never wear heels but I stupidly threw my only pair of black flats away, so I had no choice. On the way back to the train station, and being in Covent Garden, I made a sneaky Paperchase purchase - a magazine holder. It really is sad how much I love stationary and being organised.

I have been working in my normal job the last two days but I will be spending the next four days at the ExCeL for the last few days at the Olympics. I can't wait to tell you all about it!




Shoes [old] - New Look
Tights - Primark
Dress - Topshop
Jacket - Zara

Tuesday 7 August 2012

two

Today my blog is two years old and I feel like a proud parent. To be honest, I am surprised that people even read my blog and that I have managed to keep it up for so long. As mentioned in this post, I will be leaving the country soon (roughly 15 weeks!!) and I thought today would be a great time to give you details about my final blogger meet.
I will be organising the blogger meet for Saturday 6th October. I will be looking for a location in Central London, but I wanted a rough idea on the numbers before hand. If you're free this day and you are able to make it to London, please let me know. You can leave a comment below, email me: the-daisychain@hotmail.co.uk or tweet me @emmaharold or #ldnbloggermeet.
As it's my last blogger meet for a while, it really would be great to meet as many of you as possible. The more the merrier!

Monday 6 August 2012

I left my heart in london




I finished work at the Olympics at half past 3 on Friday and I was meeting some friends for dinner in the evening at St Katharine Dock, which is a beautiful place. As I had a few hours spare, I took full advantage.

I went on the cable cars from the ExCeL to the O2. It was such a beautiful day and there were amazing views of our great city London. I have written a post about it here [the-travelchain].

After, I went for a wander around Tower Bridge and St. Katharine Dock. There was such a buzz in the air, it made me fall in love with London all over again. I think Tower Bridge looks brilliant with the 5 Olympic rings and The Shard standing in the background.

I first discovered St. Katharine Dock when I went there for dinner for my friend's graduation. I thought it was brilliant last time, but it was even better this time round. When I walked round the corner I found a massive Denmark sign with stalls and live music outside The Dickens Inn. The atmosphere was amazing, I've not felt anything like it before. Soon after this I discovered Fiji and Austria around the corner - I love London for dotting different countries around our city!




Shoes - Topshop
Jeggings - Primark
Top - Zara
Jacket - Zara
Bag [old] - River Island

Thursday 2 August 2012

tidy thinks tidy thoughts



My life is a bit chaotic at the moment. I have discovered a huge amount of clothes I need to sell, friends I haven't seen in ages that I need to meet up with, photos I need to print and a laptop that has so much shit on it I'm scared it's going to break. Okay, so it may not sound chaotic by some people's standards but I am an absolute freak when it comes to organisation and I don't like having such a big to do list.

My friends and family think I'm proper weird. I like to be spontaneous in real life, not think too much about what lies ahead and just go with it but when it comes to my belongings I like everything to have it's place. My friends and family also find it weird that I will not use the calender on my iPad/iPhone to write my plans down. I don't know what it is but I like my plans to be written down in writing in a book. I haven't had a nice diary this year, and I have always wanted a Filofax so I put two and two together and treated myself.

This is a pocket size Filofax in lavender which I bought from a shop on eBay. If you're going to buy a Filofax from eBay I would highly recommend buying from this shop. There was a slight mix up and the wrong Filofax was sent to me but there was great communication from the owner and the problem was quickly resolved. I'm excited to finally have a Filofax in my life. Who'd of thought stationary could make me so happy.