Well here goes nothing ...

I honestly think this is the tenth-hundredth (is that even a word?) time I've opened up a blog post apologising for being a bit MIA, but I mean it's been 151 days since I last posted, so I'm here to tell you that I'm not dead. You know what can happen in 151 days? I can complete my first year of my Geography degree, do my first ever two night proper wild camp excursion (I will do a write up on it and some of my newbie tips - aka all the things that went wrong!), the entire British political system can be thrown into chaos and, I'll have you know, baby goat can be created (bet you didn't know that eh).

So yes, I have now completely finished my first year of my degree, and I am very chuffed to have recieved 4xBs and an A! (I'm still in shock). The last few months were pretty tough with assignment work and exam preparations, but I did only have like four mental breakdowns so it wasn't really all that bad I guess. I am spending my summer relaxing and putting off my summer reading (standard). It feels crazy that the first year is already over and done with, if you're about to start a degree, just don't blink. The entire time, because you'll miss it all.

A sneak peak of the WIld Camping trip!

What's next? Well I'm excited to be moving back to university at the end of August to start my training for a new job, before a week in the Cairngorms (Scottish Highlands) on a fieldtrip, so yes be expecting some amazing photos, hopefully with a wide angle lens too! The second year at university will hopefully be another great year, I've even swapped some modules, and instead I am taking a semester on cultural changes in society, so it will be exciting to do something running at a bit of a tangent to my Geography course!

I think I'll end this update with yet another promise to be a regular blogger again - when will I ever get my life together!? Although having allowed my blog to sit and gain some cobwebs has vastly affected my motivation to go out and be outside in nature, so this is something I am really going to try and bring back into my life.

Also I missed 30 Days Wild this year - I am heartbroken, it's almost like it sprung out of nowhere. It would have been my third year in a row too! (Boo me :( )

Anyways, I'm off now to type up a mahoosive blog schedule and ideas pot to keep me accountable!!

Tayla

Forest of Dean and Update!

I cannot believe its been a whole two weeks since I last posted! Time is literally flying by!

So, What has happened?
- University life is well under way. freshers week already feels like a distant memory as looming Assignment dates are added to the diary!
- I have FINALLY purchased myself a proper camera! It's the Canon EOS 100D, and I'm so in love with it it's embarrassing hahahaha. (I've waited so so long to be able to buy it!) So fingers crossed I'll be able to get some really good pictures with it for the blog!
- I am really enjoying living in the city of Worcester, I can't quite get enough of the beautiful riverside walks! See below:

Taken this morning on my new camera, lots to learn with it still of course!

Last sunday I joined the Universities Nature Society to the Forest of Dean for the day, I already love the opportunities that come about as a university student! The forest walks were beautiful in every way, with a huge array of birds, bugs and boars! (Although we didn't actually see any Boars :( )

I will be attempting to provide some decent blog material soon, rather just pictures! (Although you have to admit, they are pretty good ones!)

Ta-ra for now!
Tayla

University Societies

On wednesday we had our University Sports and Society Fair, which was pretty much a hall packed with groups of people promoting their sport/hobby, trying to get you to join. Well naturally I signed up to the Geography Society, and the Nature Society.

On thursday evening I joined the Nature Society on a night safari around the campus, we detected bats, spied on badgers and trapped moths!

I learnt how to detect the difference between the common and the Suprano Pipistrelle Bat based purely on frequencies (Pretty snazzy if you ask me!)

The Moths we spotted that evening were:

• Lunar Underwing
• Angle Shades
• Light Emerald Moth 

Two Light Emerald Moths

University Societies

On wednesday we had our University Sports and Society Fair, which was pretty much a hall packed with groups of people promoting their sport/hobby, trying to get you to join. Well naturally I signed up to the Geography Society, and the Nature Society.

On thursday evening I joined the Nature Society on a night safari around the campus, we detected bats, spied on badgers and trapped moths!

I learnt how to detect the difference between the common and the Suprano Pipistrelle Bat based purely on frequencies (Pretty snazzy if you ask me!)

The Moths we spotted that evening were:

• Lunar Underwing
• Angle Shades
• Light Emerald Moth 

Two Light Emerald Moths

"Change is the Only Constant in Life"

Like the turning of the leaves and the encroachment of the bitter frost, change is constant. But don't worry too much guys, the sun is still out and it is another beautiful day.

But right now for me life is just a big sudden change. yesterday afternoon I arrived at the University of Worcester to begin my new life as a residential student doing a Geography degree. I am unpacked and somewhat settled in my new humble abode, with introductory talks and lectures beginning tomorrow.

I am hoping this new direction in life that my blog will begin to adapt and change too. I am planning on a blog overhaul, with a change of name and a change of design. I want to blog about what university life is really like, and what Geographers really go through and what concepts and problems we are faced with.

I best be off now, I have my first freshers social event to get ready for! Making friends can't be that hard right?

Worcester University

Had such a brilliant day yesterday! An early bus into town and a quick train and I was standing in the beautiful city of Worcester! It was my applicant day - which in short in simply an open day for students that have already been offered a place to study!

I took a single photo that day, everything went so quickly! But I am hoping to visit the city again soon for a good old tourist visit!

I am now more excited than ever to start my studies, a Bsc Geography Honours degree! This means that I will more than likely start to blog about my studies more, field trips that I do, and things I learn that I feel are worth blogging! (And of course my trips around worcester looking for geocaches!)

I think I might give this blog a bit of a revamp and name change soon, so check this space! I will put some brain juice and get the clogs turning!

The Hive Library, the first university library in the UK to be open to both the
general public and to students. 

Here comes the Sun...

There's no doubting it, the winter just gone was definately mild by everyone's standard, but I am oh so happy for the warmer weather and longer days!

Looking back over the adventures of last summer has really made me miss the outdoors, working tirelessly at work and on my potential new academic adventure has made my life feel very very busy.

So Happy Spring! To anyone and everyone who still happens to read this, what started out as a passionate project of my love for the outdoors quickly turned stale as I failed to update when I say I would. And for that I feel really bad, and undoubtedly pretty annoyed at myself.

So a new leaf is to be turned over this Spring as I venture into something new, in the Autumn I begin my journey through university, where I will be studying Geography and the University of Worcester.

A new adventure I am countlessly counting away the days too, and it is my aim to blog my learning and love as I go, on trips and lectures that inspire me, and on subjects that bring me to question everything I thought I knew.

After publishing this I am going to sit long and hard and really think about what I want this blog to be, and plan out my ideas, because without a plan, a wish is just a wish.

You will hear from me soon!
Tayla

Blogger Awards!

I think I win for worst blogger of the year award! I mean I've been missing almost 2 months, I hope you weren't all worried about me ....

So here are my lists of excuses for you:

1. I've been focusing a lot on my coursework at the moment because I left it all last minute (Standard) 
2. I have made the decision  to apply to study Geography at the University of Worcester, so I have been busy on my application!
3. Summer has all of a sudden disappeared and I was not mentally prepared for the seasonal change. (A very poor excuse I know) 

So, there you go, read them and weep, that's all I could come up with to make up for my complete inability to work on my blog. 

Tomorrow's a new day though right? 

I will be posting more often I promise! 

The Wilderness Warrior