New Beginnings | A guide to fresher's week

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Freshers' week is often referred to as the 'best' week you will ever have at university: It is the week where you finally get to move away from home, gain independence, make new friends, join sports and clubs, and, of course, drink copious amounts alcohol without feeling bad about it.

As thousands of young people are just about to embark on their life-altering journey to university, I have put together a little guide to help first-time-freshers make their intro week as stress-free and enjoyable as possible!

1.  Find your flatmates on Facebook It's very daunting knowing that you are going to be living with complete strangers for the first year of your university life. I was so nervous about it that I'd wake up in the middle of the night with a cold sweat, but you've got to remember you are a stranger too, and everyone is feeling the same as you! Most universities have a Fresher's Facebook page, so be sure to join that and find your flatmates. Get talking, find out what you're all interested in, and hopefully that first walk into your new flat won't nearly be as scary as you were expecting.
2.  Find your coursemates on Facebook The second worse thing next to not knowing who you are going to be living with, is not knowing who you're going to have classes with. The first few days can be really nerve-wracking, especially if you don't know anyone on your course. Find your coursemates on Facebook and introduce yourself. Even if it's just a simple "Hello!", at least when it comes to your introductory lectures there will be a friendly face you can sit next to and not feel so worried about looking like the antisocial person you secretly want to be on the first day.
3. Make friends with the flats around you This is one of the things I really regret not doing in first year. Introduce yourselves to the flats around you and maybe invite them around for pre-drinks before going out, making for all-round more fun nights out. My flat was only small, so sometimes there would only be three or four of us out at a time. We could often here next door having flat parties and we would think "why didn't we introduce ourselves properly?!". Even if you don't end up doing anything with the flat opposite, at least you introduced yourself and will have slightly less awkward conversations during early morning fire drills in your slippers and shower cap.
4. Go to the activities and sports' fairs Freshers' week isn't just about drinking your weight in jäger bombs *shock*. The activities fair has hundreds of different clubs and societies you can join, so sign up to anything that looks interesting to you! But only actually take part in the ones you genuinely enjoy because it is surprising how much time they can actually take up. Even if you don't end up joining anything, it is worth just going along for the freebies. Did someone say free pizza? I'd also check out your uni's sports fair even if you aren't really into sports. There is so much more to choose from compared to your old school's clubs, including sports you didn't even know existed. What even is Korfball? Some universities even hold Give it a Go sessions so you can try out different sports before you fully commit to them. 100% recommended. 
5. Do NOT buy the Fresher's Week tickets/wristbands Apart from the fact these are a total waste of money, you don't want to be limiting yourself to the same club every night. Freshers week is a chance to try out the different bars and clubs to find your scene, so you don't want to be stuck in the same grotty club every night. Aside from that, your flatmates might want to do different things. Speak to your flatmates beforehand about what kind of events they want to attend. Are you all wanting to try out the paint party? I'd try and avoid buying any tickets before you get to uni, unless you are all sure that this is the place you want to go and it is guaranteed to sell out. Even if you decide to not go in the end, you can just sell your ticket on, there's probably someone willing to buy it.
6. Try something different You're most likely in a new city, with new surroundings and new friends, so why not try something you've never done before? During freshers' week a lot of universities host one-off activities for you to try. Go to something garish and out of your comfort zone all in the name of being a fresher. You never know, that wine tasting session you went to might just end up being your new favourite society.
7. Organise a film night You don't have to go out every night of freshers. There isn't a written rule that says you must. Besides, sometimes the best nights are those spent with a pizza and a big tub of ice cream, miming the words to your favourite chick flick. Class it as some serious flat bonding time (and to find out that the boys in your flat really do know all the words to 'Let It Go').
8. Don't go out on the last night of freshers Okay, if you don't have lectures until the afternoon on your first day, then go out and party to your hearts content. But if you have an early start on your first day, I recommend you opt for a cosy night in instead. And I'm speaking from experience. After a Uni of Vs Poly bar crawl, I was not in the right frame of mind for a two hour long lecture starting at 8am. The fact I managed to stay awake for both my lectures that day was a real miracle. But that isn't to say I wasn't nodding off and dreaming of my uncomfortable halls bed. It really wasn't worth it.

YouTube Culture | My Response To Zoella Criticism

Imagine you're in 2009 and you asked people what a 'vlogger' was. Most wouldn't have the faintest idea what you were talking about. Return back to 2014 on the other hand and you'd get a completely different response. That is unless you're over the age of 30 and don't have kids who are glued to the ever-growing internet phenomenon that is YouTube. Most-likely.

But it seems that YouTube and vloggers are becoming of greater interest to the press. Some of it is bad, such as the news of allegations regarding popular YouTuber Sam Pepper, which you can read here, but the vast majority of it is positive.

So, is all of this publicity a good thing?

With many newspapers and other media outlets trying to 'keep up with the times', herds of journalists and reporters are writing stories on 'internet celebrities', and often not doing enough research before doing so. A prime example? Zoella.

What with a recent article published by The Independent, linked below, it has become apparent through a quick scroll through my twitter and Facebook feed that Zoella is like marmite: you either love her or you hate her.

But for those who don't really know who Zoella is or watch any of her content, are articles and blog posts like this giving off the wrong impression and causing people to jump to conclusions to quickly and to soon?

Posting one of her first videos in 2009, Zoe could have never imagined that 5 years later she would have 6 million subscribers watching her and listening to her every word. 

What started out as a hobbie when in her teens gradually became her full-time job.

With almost as many people watching her as the amount of people living in Tennessee, USA, it is no wonder she is gaining so much attention.

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But it is because of this huge following that as soon as she makes one small blunder, someone, somewhere is bound to pick up on it.

And what is said blunder? She contradicted herself. *gasps* Everyone contradicts themselves once in a while. Only not always in front of 6 million people, including reporters and internet trolls waiting around for the one moment she slips up.

During the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards, where she won an award for Choice Web Star: Fashion/Beauty, she told a reporter that if she were to give her teenage following one piece of advice it would be to fret less about their appearence. And according to the author of The Independent piece mentioned above, "It’s maddening that a girl who has made it her business to tell teenagers how to put make up on, or get their hair just right, now feels she’s in a position to admonish them for “fretting” about their appearance."

But you only have to watch her vlog channel to see that she is comfortable in her own skin and isn't a bad role model for kids at all. In the vast majority of videos she is wearing no makeup and is going about her daily life as normal. What the younger viewers should be seeing. What she said is hardly hypocritical. It isn't like she is showing viewers how to get a 'perfect' face, or the 'perfect' look, show is just showing them how she likes to do her hair and makeup. She even filmed a video called 'Your skin doesn't define you' where she went on to explain that you will eventually go on to feel comfortable in your skin- it doesn't matter if you have a few spots, or a few scars.

I may even go as far as to say that if she wasn't wearing makeup on her main channel videos she would receive even more criticism for not doing so. I'm sure there would be some kind of upheaval if the presenters on This Morning or any other popular TV show didn't wear makeup.

Thousands of people wear make-up because they want to. You don't just have to feel insecure about yourself to wear it, which is what I think a lot of people here are forgetting. It's all a part of growing up anyway. We experiment with makeup. Some days we wear it, some days we don't. I don't feel compelled to spent half an hour putting makeup on every day when I'm only going to into uni for a few hours. 

So, if she often says she isn't a make-up artist/beauty vlogger, and instead is making content not only that she wants to create, but what her audience also wants, then why did she win the award? Well probably because she seems so 'ordinary' in these videos: she's had no expert training and has taught herself, much like what the younger girls watching her videos want to do. Not only that, but her tutorials and styles are affordable. You don't have to look very far to find a makeup tutorial that only uses the high end brands such as MAC and Chanel.

You just have to look through her uploads to prove she isn't just a beauty/fashion YouTuber. Take her collabs with other YouTubers and her DIY baking videos for example. Excited for Christmas yet?

And then theirs the topic of her anxiety. Zoe is a sufferer of anxiety and panic attacks and is very open about this to her audience.

Recently, she posted a video, answering questions about anxiety, and prior to this she posted a video explaining her anxiety. In her Q&A, she reassures her audience that anxiety is a common thing and that they are not alone. 

Going through some of the comments on my Facebook newsfeed, a lot of people were scrutinising Zoe for 'attempting to cure anxiety with her techniques.' She even states that even with her relaxation techniques to battle her anxiety it hasn't gone away; she never said that it is a cure for it.  Some also went on to say that none of her ideas worked for them so why should she bother try telling people to 'cure' their anxiety? She even said 'We're all very very different, and we're all programmed very differently". She understands that everyone is different and they may not work for everyone.

Now, even though I am not as open about it, I also suffer from anxiety. The video didn't really help me because I already know how to control my anxiety (kind of!), but it would have helped many people, which is evident from a quick scroll through the comments.

It seems that a lot of people are just looking for a reason to hit out at Zoe. If a friend came to you asking for advice you'd give it, whether they take it on board or not. And that's exactly what she is doing.

I also saw another comment by a Facebook user who said "She needs to stop accepting thousands of pounds to talk about some ****** hairspray or whatever." Zoe, along with many other YouTubers are very open about product placement in their videos. Zoe has frequently said that companies send her products to talk about in her videos, but she only talks about the ones she truly enjoys using. She's also never disclosed how much she gets paid by certain companies, or if she does at all.

I realise that I've completely rambled, but as someone who has watched Zoe for almost 3 years I felt compelled to write something about this current topic. Honestly, I believe that people can be entitled to their own opinions, but when it comes to things they know very little, or not much about, they should do a little research before heading to the internet to vent their fury.

My Skincare Secret | Showing My Skin The Love It Deserves

Hello Everyone!

So as part of the Simple Skin Social campaign, I thought I'd share with you how I keep my skin healthy!

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Now we all know spots can be a right pain, and even when we take really good care of our skin, they can still pop up and  look like Yellowstone is about to irrupt off our chin! A lot of this can be down to Mother Nature paying us a visit (TMI?) or our hormones going awol, but it also has a lot to do with our lifestyle and the way we take care of our skin. So lads, this can apply to you too!

I don't really know if I can call these my skincare secrets, as I know a lot of people will do the same as I, but it's surprising how many people I know don't actually have a routine- and my skin feels a lot healthier because of it! However, todays post is about how lifestyle can affect your skin, maybe I'll do a follow up on my actual skincare routine if anyone's interested?!

If you saw my 12 Days of Christmas series, I mentioned that one of my resolutions for 2014 was to drink more water. And if you saw Zoella's most recent video Little Ways To Change Your Life, you'll see that I completely agree with her; drinking more water really does help your skin! It keeps you feeling hydrated and helps stopping your skin getting too dry. I saw a noticeable difference within the first couple of weeks.

I've never been a big fruit fan- give me a big plate of veggies over a bowl of strawberries any day! It's mainly to do with the textures of fruits (yes I realise I'm a little weird), but recently my parents bought a smoothie maker, so I've been having smoothie's everyday for breakfast and I honestly think it has really helped not only clear my skin, but give it a healthy glow... probably because I'm getting more vitamins and healthy sugars into my diet!

I came back from my holiday on Thursday, and I honestly think a week in the Greek sunshine has really helped my skin a lot. Whilst over there I had no spots, and any spots I did have disappeared straight away; it was like the sun was some kind of miracle worker! Obviously I'm aware that the sun can actually do an awful lot of damage, so I was wearing factor 50 on my face every day, but I believe the vitamin D from the sun, mixed with the vast amount of water I was drinking out there to keep hydrated really did wonders for my skin! So basically, just spend some time outside and get some fresh air. Not only will it help you clear your head, but it will help keep your skin clear and fresh too- as long as you don't burn!

Not that you can see my face that well, but loving life in the pool!

Spot free and (almost) make-up free, with a cocktail in a watermelon, what could be better?!

Another 'secret' that isn't really a secret of mine is to eliminate as much unnecessary stress from your life as possible! Obviously that was near impossible during exam season when I had my A-Levels to compete with which took a serious toll on my skin, but as soon as they were over I gave myself a few days to relax and do nothing. I'm pretty sure these few days consisted of hours of Netflix, a few countryside walks and not much else, and I'm very thankful for these!

©Alyce Burton Photography Back from a shoot mid-exam season at the beautiful Ingram Valley in Northumberland.

I hope this post has helped some of you see how you could alter your lifestyle ever so slightly to help your skin reap the benefits. It certainly helped me!

Cheerio x

What's in my hand luggage? | A few flying tips

Hello everyone!

This time next week I'll be chilling at the beach sipping from a cocktail or two, watching the sun set in Kos, Greece with some of my closest friends. We leave on Wednesday, and as I was taking pictures for this post and my next, the excitement really kicked in; I'm going on my first 'girls holiday' and I couldn't be more excited!

Okay I could be, if it wasn't for my irrational fear of flying and the sea.

Flying is one of those things many people hate, for many different reasons. Me? I don't like being 'trapped', and that's exactly how I feel on a plane as there's no way to get a breath of fresh air- it's not like I can just walk outside! Also, flying over the sea freaks me out a lot. Its just so BIG and never-ending. Even though the odds of dying in a plane crash are 11 million to 1, I can't help but get freaked out a little bit. It'll be fine, just relax.

Today's post, (and Tuesday's for that matter) is unlike anything I have ever done before, so this might not work and may not be my thing. But they say practice makes perfect, right?

So, what will I be taking with my in my hand luggage on Wednesday? Well, you've came to the right place!

I think I'm a little bit in love with my new handbag! It's a Limited Edition from Primark and cost £20, which seems pretty pricey, but its not just an ordinary bag. It comes with a removable clutch at the front which is great for when we decide to go out, and if you look at the picture on the right, it has the main area, and two sections which can be zipped shut at the front and back for your more valuable possessions- perfect!

Obviously there's my passport -that's a must- as well as my money, EHIC card, digital camera and phone. Again, from Primark I bought a card and phone holder for £4 which I think is great as I won't have to go rooting around my bag for these things. It's also a really great size, not too big, not too small, and It has a small section for money too. Bonus.

I've also included my iPod shuffle rather than my iPod classic as it isn't the end of the word if I lose the shuffle. I've added the most relaxing, calming music I own to keep myself calm throughout the flight. I'm especially excited about the edition of George Ezra's album Wanted on Voyage which has been on repeat since it arrived on my doorstep on Saturday as pre-release. If you haven't already, I highly recommend you listen to the whole album on iTunes for free before its general release at midnight tonight! I'm also bringing a knitted kimono (even though it doesn't go with what I'll be wearing shhh) as a cover up incase it gets a bit chilly- especially on the flight on the way back!

Other obvious things include chewing gum and boiled sweets, a MUST if you get really sore ears while flying like me. Water is also a must as it is VERY important you keep hydrated during your flight. I shall be buying all of these things at duty free.

It's quite a long flight to Greece, so I need to keep myself entertained. Magazines are essential, especially if you want to read all the cheeky celeb goss, and summer styles. I'll also be starting Giovanna Fletcher's You're The One that I Want. I've had to restrain myself from starting this ever since I bought it. I vowed to myself I wouldn't buy it until after exams, which I did, but it's been staring at me, daring me to read it. I read Billy and Me last year, which even though was an easy read, was amazing and made me laugh and cry. From reading reviews of her new book, it seems You're The One that I Want is also an easy read, perfect for a relaxing holiday!

Stupidly I didn't read the allowances for hand luggage on liquid and so will have to buy a new moisturiser to fit in my clear makeup bag, which I will apply at the beginning and after the flight on make-up free skin to keep my skin hydrated as your skin can get really dry and dehydrated when flying. Since the plan is to go out once we land and get to our hotel, I've pack very minimalistic makeup to apply at the end of my flight, just so my face looks a little fresher and 'awake'. I've also included my contact lens case and solution and will be taking my glasses with me, as your contacts can dry up and cause irritation if you wear then while flying.

If you're going on a long haul flight, or a flight lasting more than a couple of hours I recommend you get up and go to the toilet every hour or so, just so you can stretch your legs. Obviously you're going to wear your comfy clothes but sometimes people forget about shoes. Slip on shoes or flip-flops are best for flying: not just to make it easier when going through security, but your feet can sometimes swell when flying and these leave room to allow your feet to remain comfortable if they do swell.

I hope you enjoyed reading and seeing what I will be taking with me in my hand luggage, and I hope my tips (although not many) help you if you are indeed going on holiday or flying this summer.

I'll be back on Tuesday with a summer haul.

Cheerio x

Finishing School Forever and The Shine School Media Awards

Hello Everyone!

Yet again there has been a prolonged absence from me over the last few months, but when A-Levels call, a student's gotta do what a student's gotta do! However, after many many months of not having much of a life at all and revising up to 10 hours a day, exams are officially over and I'm finished school forever! (Hopefully).

After finishing my last exam on Thursday it was time to celebrate with our school leavers dinner, plenty drinks, and a lovely night with friends; what a way to end 15 long years of school, even though it didn't feel that long at all! Here's just a few of the photo's from the evening/night.

These last two years have been the hardest of my school career to date, but I can rest on the fact that I tried my absolute hardest, and I couldn't have possibly done any more. At times it got a bit too much and I lost my cool, but I've done my bit and now it's time to play the waiting game and enjoy my summer! I've quite a bit happening over this summer, which I can't wait to share with you... starting with a little something from Yesterday!

As some of you will know, I want to go into a career in journalism, and study it at uni. I'd been editor and co-editor of our school newspaper for the last two years, and for the second time we had reached the final of the UK Shine School Media Awards in London at The Stationer's Hall.

Being an editor and contributor for The Alnwickist, with help from the team at The Northumberland Gazette has taught me quite a lot about journalism, but I know University will teach me a lot more.

Back in January when news of Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson's visits to schools to speak about tolerance and non-extremism reached the national press, I found some national newspapers (which I will not name for obvious reasons) had taken a quote I had included in one of my articles for the December 2013 issue. Because one online newspaper took my quote, but didn't credit myself or The Alnwickist for it, other newspapers reported 'The ****** spoke to.. etc" and I got to see first hand what national journalism was like, which left me very intrigued.

Moving on from that and back to the point- haha! So yesterday, myself and the rest of the main editorial team made our way from good old North-Northumberland all the way to London- only my third time there! It was a very similar set up to last year, if you would like to read my blog post 'I ventured to London' about that click here.

We arrived at the stationer's hall and took part in a book binding workshop. Lets say us language and writing types aren't the best at logic! It was a lot harder than it sounds!

Then, after a light lunch it was time to take our seats for the awards ceremony to begin.

The awards ceremony was presented by Simon Heffer of the Daily Mail, formerly The Telegraph (I can't remember his full job title, sorry Simon!) and Suzy Cox, deputy editor of Cosmopolitan who has worked on other titles such as Mizz and Smash Hits ,a huge inspiration of mine. Awards were also given out by big names in the journalism and publishing world. Not only this, but Suzy spoke to about her career in journalism which I found so fascinating- especially her story about one member of Busted!

Out of the 200 schools that entered from across the UK, we were one of over 20 schools to be shortlisted for some of the awards up for grabs. We were shortlisted for Best Newspaper Cover, Best Design and Layout, Best Feature Article and Best Newspaper. Out of these four categories we were then recognised as highly commended for Best Cover and Best Newspaper, and although it wasn't an outright win, we were very pleased with ourselves as the competition was tough, dominated by magazines, and we didn't have the budget or the facilities other schools at the final had.

Going up for Best Newspaper. Image credit.

All in all it was still a worthwhile trip and we are very pleased with ourselves as again, it taught us just how competitive the journalism field is. Am I ready for that? I think so.

After the awards ceremony we were left to navigate London and the Underground ourselves, which for me, on a personal level was such an achievement- especially during rush hour! Maybe living in London wouldn't be too bad after all.

Stumbling across Trafalgar Square, again.

I would just like to thank the organisers of The Shine School Media Awards for the chance to  go to London, as without them I would've been sat at home probably watching Netflix! If you want to find out more about Shine, click here.

Cheerio x

I'm Picking Up Good Vibrations | Life Update and Last Ever School Production

Hello Everyone!

9 weeks is a long time to not blog isn't it? But I'm back after my break and have so much to tell you about!

After completing the 12 Days of Christmas blog series, it was straight back to school for me, greeted by some lovely mock exams (can you sense the sarcasm?) meaning January consisted of endless hours of revision.

January also welcomed the beginning of the rehearsal process for the school musical, Return to the Forbidden Planet, a much more enjoyable feat. This involved (you guessed it) rehearsals for 2 hours every night after school and 6-9 hours on a Sunday.

If you read my post A Saunter On The Moors | The Reason I've Been Gone So Long, you would know that I love the amount of rehearsal time put into the school productions. Because the cast ends up spending almost every waking hour together we all become so close and like one big happy family. The rehearsals become my social life, because we're all friends and enjoy the time spent together rehearsing.

This year I was a dancer, or, if you like, a Swinging Spacecat, which was a lot of fun. We were in almost all of the dances which meant a lot of routines were to be learnt. 

The Swinging Spacecats!

Our Sunday rehearsals would be taken over by learning these dances, and repeating them over and over and over and over..... and over, until the sweat was dripping off of our faces and the moves were drilled into our brains. This was what our director, called 'dance workshop'. More like 'dance until you can't breathe and can't move'. Even so, this was my favourite part of rehearsals! If you weren't fit before rehearsals, you certainly were by the end!

And like a flash, January was over quicker than we knew it and we said hello to February.

As part of Sixth Form, each form class has to present an assembly to the whole of the year. Our classes assembly was on friendship. As the first form class to present their assembly, we wanted to set the bar high, and so decided to create a music video. Yes, we made our very own music video to the theme tune of Friends. If you really want, you can watch it here. 

It is something I'm going to cherish. 5 years with these people means a lot, and since we are all going our separate ways in September, it will be nice to look back at this video and cringe a little!

February also saw the RTTFP cast take a residential trip to Ford Castle. 2 and a half days of rehearsals. You heard me right. We spent the weekend learning new dances and nailing all the musical numbers. We also got to have some quality bonding time. This was when all cliques disappeared and we all became like one big family. Oh, and I went on a zipwire too. A massive achievement for me!

March. Where do I even start with March. It finally dawned on me that this was the last week I would ever spend with all of the wonderful people in the RTTFP cast. It also finally dawned on me that this was my last ever school production, and the last time I would ever perform like this.

I made a promise to myself that I would cherish every moment of each show, and with 5 performances, there were lots of moments to cherish. Each show got stronger and stronger, better and better, each and every one receiving a standing ovation.

Then came the final performance. As I walked off stage after the first number, I couldn't help but smile knowing that for the last 5 years I've been doing something I love, and I was going to make the most of my final few hours.

As the curtains closed on us and our final standing ovation, I had never felt happier. There is no better feeling than doing something you love and enjoy, and seeing that you've brought happiness and laughter to other people. Getting your grades, or finally going out with that person you've liked for ages. No feeling compares to that of getting a standing ovation. You're sweating, you're struggling to breathe, and you smell a little bit, but the feeling is still out of this world.

Giving out gifts and hearing speeches at the end of the night made me realise just how lucky I have been.

Over my 5 years in high school I have been in 5 musicals and 1 straight drama production. Not only have they all been an incredible experience, but I've made friends for life through these shows, people I will never forget, and they've made me into a much better person, the person I am today.

These are the moments and the memories I am going to remember forever, always with a smile on my face.

If anyone would like to read the review of our production of Return to the Forbidden Planet, click here.

Cheerio x

12 days of Christmas | Day 12

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Stacey gave to me, twelve old photos, eleven memories, ten amazing movies, nine YouTube videos, eight resolutions, seven must-read books, six make-up tips, five favourite blogs, four amazing people, three recipes, two cute doggies and a new blog post every day.

It's the final installment of the 12 days of Christmas blog posts! I'm a little sad, but also relieved. This was much harder than previously anticipated but I've actually really enjoyed this, it's been a lot of fun and I hope you've all been enjoying reading these.

My final blog post is some old photo's. I've tried to keep my embarrassment to a minimum but I've also thrown in a couple of awkward middle school phase photo's. Enjoy laughing at my younger self! 

Me and my little brother Josh... nawwwrrr.

This is quite possibly my favourite photo of the lot. Haha sorry Josh, but you love me really.

Despite my CBBC hat, I love this photo a lot.

Back in year 4 when I was playing the grumpy sheep in our school Christmas play, The Grumpy Sheep. Not one of my finest moments.

Our old dog Bramble. I wasn't choking her, I swear!

Hahaha! You know what? I'm not even sorry, this photo is just hilarious! The Lion the witch and the wardrobe. 2008 I think?

Thanks for sticking with me for the 12 days of Christmas, I'll see you all soon!

Cheerio x