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

Currently drowning in Assignments ...

My first christmas as a university student has found me buried beneath two assignments, an exam and an assessed presentation in January. So having decided to stay on campus a little longer to get ahead on all the reading I need to do, it all got a little overwhelming. To clear my head, I set an early alarm on Saturday and was up and out just as the sun was rising. (one of the perks of winter daylight times - I don't have to get up so early to see the sunrise!) It wasn't too cold thankfully, but was beautifully quiet. I had a gander across the racecourse in Worcester, which led me to a small park. I have been trying to find the right settings on my camera for landscape photography, but I am still disappointed, I feel they don't have the depth of detail I'm wanting. I have followed the manual settings guidelines for landscapes, so perhaps it is the lens that I use perhaps. But anyway, here are the photos I managed to capture ... anything to get put off all the work I have!

I am going home this week, so will hopefully be able to get out to my favourite country park and bird hide, which I am very much looking forward to, so there will be at least one more post on here before christmas day! (But you can always stay updated on my twitter account! @thegeogstudent )

A Muddy Morning Walk

What' this, two posts in two days!? I must be ill!

I have a bit of spare time this evening between my studying to type up a quick post. This morning I joined my University Nature Society for a walk along the river. For some reason I didn't give any thought on the amount of mud there would be, rookie error!

Nevertheless it was a beautiful walk, and a new route to take that is nice and local! (Hurrah!) A few new sightings for me personally too, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and the teeny Goldcrest! There were also plenty of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long Tailed Tits! Although photographing was difficult with the sheer amount of naked branches competing within the photos! (thanks winter!) But of course, I am not one to be beaten yet!

Here is what I did manage to get:

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Long Tailed Tit

I promise this is a Goldcrest!! 

Another Long Tailed Tit

Fairground and Fireworks

Not exactly nature related, (okay so not at all, but it's my blog guys!) As you all may know last night was bonfire night, and my first here in Worcester! The Racecourse held the biggest one this year, and seeing as it was a five minute walk away, it'd be rude not to go. I was really pleased with how my camera worked, and had a lot of fun with the exposure settings too!

Next week I hope to have some amazing pictures, as I am going back home and having a day at the Severn Valley Country Park again, and I'm already really excited! (I really really hope the Kingfisher is there again!)

Anyways, I should really get back to my assignment now, I'm only posting this small update because I'm procrastinating, haha oops!

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

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.