Just a quick update really.

It was Jaime's birthday yesterday and I went for lunch with her, Maurice, Rowena, her grandparents and a couple of her friends too which was really lovely. It was a bit of a mad rush because I finished the creche at 12 and they got to the restaurant at 12 so I had to run home and get changed and was about 30 minutes late and they'd already ordered! It was really nice and I was glad I was in the country for her 18th. A few of us chilled out at Jaime's before people arrived for pre-drinks at her house. I went home for 6.30 to have some tea, but didn't eat much because of my massive lunch of beer battered fish and chips!

It was really great to see everyone again at Jaime's when I went back at half seven and everyone seemed pleased to see me too which was nice. We sat outside in the front garden and everyone was socialising and having fun. At half nine most people were restless to get to the pub and Jaime's cousins had arrived so we set off. Most of us walked but there were a few sober drivers who offered lifts.

The plan was for Josh to be my "guardian" while we were in the pub because he's my brother and he's 21, which seemed fair enough, but when we got to the Sports Bar, a lady was going round checking all the young people's IDs and when she got to us, we were honest and told her that my brother was my guardian while I was here. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that and only Parents or Grandparents can act as guardian and we needed a written letter from the Guardian. So, Rowena, Maurice, Jaime, Josh and I trekked over to Mike Stevens' house (the sheriff) to see if there was anything we could do.

He told us that unfortunately, there wasn't really anything viable to do about the situation, so we walked back to the bar, I said goodbye to Jaime and the others and we went back to Jaime's house. I was really disappointed that I couldn't stay in the bar, not even to have soft drinks, so I was feeling a bit down about it.Maurice came back to the house with Jaime's cousins and we sat in the living room chatting and things which was nice.

Today I've been finishing a few of my projects that needed to get done before I came back to England. I finished a bookmark that I'd been embroidering with clematis flowers on which has been my thursday morning patchwork project, and I'm just finishing off my knitted cardigan which I started months before I came out here, so it feels good to get it done. I'm going to bring back the pattern for the "hang about bear" so that I can do one at home to go in my room because I'm jealous of Josh having one! :P

I still haven't finished my schoolwork, despite my desire to get it done by the end of this week, but I've still got this afternoon and all of tomorrow to complete it. I haven't really felt like doing work, especially at the beginning of the week because I was ill and I struggled to concentrate, but now I'm back to full health it should be easier and I'll get cracking on it sooner rather than later.

Josh is at a man called Mike's house to finish of his mouse woodcarving this afternoon. Josh is really enthused about the woodcarving so it looks to be a long-term hobby I think. He's enjoying it so much and he's learning and improving quickly, I'm really pleased for him.

Congratulations to Mum for passing her law exams! I knew you could do it, I'm so happy for you. All that time spent revising and working when all you wanted to do was give really paid off and I'm glad you got the outcome you deserved! I'm also glad you had a lovely trip up North. I'm looking forward to getting home in just under a weeks time and seeing everybody (but less about having to go back to another year of college :S )

Sending my love to all of you, only 1 week left of blogs so I'll try and make them good ones!

Beth xxxxxxx