VSO

Just a quick update on VSO and my travel plans.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to hear from the VSO team regarding my CV. I'd held off applying for ages. I didn't think they'd accept me to be honest, as I only had a couple of years in the Voluntary Sector. That's why I took the TEFL course.

However, they did accept the CV, and a couple of weeks later they got back to me offering two positions. One is working with d/Deaf HIV/AIDS victims in Kenya and the other is working in Rwanda, helping to develop a national sign language manual - not easy between three national spoken languages: Kinyarwanda, French & English!

It was a bit bizarre as I’d just given a Sociolinguistics presentation a couple of days before on the problems arising from standardising national sign languages! There's a fantastic academic study done on this, looking at what happened when the same thing occured in Bali. It's complicated, and created a lot of issues to do with identity and access to education, but knowing the pitfalls perhaps I could help to tackle it differently and with a certain level of awareness and respect for minority sign languages.

Anyway, I put my hand up to Rwanda. They sent me a huge amount of information on the customs, culture, etiquette, geography, history and so forth. One interesting quirk is that after the 1994 genocide a rule was passed that the government had to consist of a minimum of one-third female representation, and now has the highest level of female representation of any government in the world! The rationale being that women would never allow such violence to occur again. Questionable perhaps, but interesting.

The departure date is for the 9th September, but I cannot go so early as my dissertation finishes on 14th September and I have a family commitment for the first week in October. They are discussing whether this can be moved now. I have not got the job for certain, I still have to pass an assessment day in London. I have the preparation material but have not been issued with a date yet. It is a non-competitive interview but quite full-on, assessing your character and asking many personal questions.

Anyway, I shall write more about this as and when things progress. I must away to the other side of town with Eric to meet Suki & Co. Suki's just discovered she got 70% on her MA, and she's also moving house this weekend, so the gang's out for celebratory drinks!

Sikh Wedding

This morning I was woken at about 9:20 by the sound of drumming and music outside. I opened my attic window and looked out. The entire street was awash with people and bright colours. I think it was a Sikh wedding.

There were two groups. At the front were a group of men all wearing orange turbans, with one man in the middle on a decorated white horse, holding a sword in his lap and wearing a headdress that covered his face like a veil - so he seemed blindfolded.

Behind were a group of women accompanied by a male, turbaned drummer and a trumpet player in a zoot hat looking very cool. All of the women wore brightly coloured saris, lots of decorative jewellery, and stopped every few paces to bhangra dance and make noise. It was a real delight to watch before they disappeared off round the corner. There is still bunting down the street from a wedding (I think Hindu) that took place last week.

Mark's Moving

Yesterday, I went with Lucy, Suki and Pete to help Mark move from his shared flat on Albany Road into his brand-spanking-new apartment across Cardiff, in Glyn Rhymni. Between five of us, we managed to load both Mark and Lucy's cars and take a direct route to the new place. Getting the stuff down the stairs was the easy bit. Getting it up the three flights of stairs at the other end was more of a challenge! Nice place, though. Good first home, and all new and freshly painted with a good view of the railway (which is important for Mark!).

It only took us two trips to do the lot and, after a chocolate crispie cake break, we headed to PC's to commence drinking by about 4pm. Daytime drinking is never good, though. We left it quite late to order food, so we all just wanted to curl up and go to sleep after that! However, we pressed on down Charles Street for a couple of drinks at Bar Icon and Exit. Town was absolutely dead - not a soul in sight, so we soon meandered home. Mark and Suki back to City Road, Lucy and myself to Canton/Riverside. Lucy's bag clinking suspiciously, inferring that she may possibly have been glass collecting for her own house warming next week! Ahem.

Dissertation

And so the nightmare of dissertation begins.

I know the topic, I know the background - I need the data. This is the most difficult part of any research project: finding people to take part or, rather, finding the right people to take part.

Any help would be hugely appreciated.

The research is looking into Deaf and hearing people's experiences of the legal system, to compare whether they are getting the same treatment. In addition to this, I have already written a paper about the experiences of one Deaf man in the legal system back in the 1970s, before interpreting standards were introduced, before the Human Rights Act, and before the DDA. So, I can also see whether things have improved for Deaf people over the past 30 years.

In order to carry out this research I need two groups of people to contrast: one hearing, one Deaf. Deaf participants need to be preferred-language BSL signers, and everybody must be:

• A UK citizen
• An adult over the age of 18
• A victim of crime since 2003, resulting in police or (if it got that far) court action.

Victims of violent crime need to think very carefully before volunteering as it may be distressing recounting traumatic events.

All participants will take part in a 40-60 minute one-on-one interview in which they will be asked to describe the crime, the actions of the police and courts, how they felt about the proceedings, and what support they were offered. All interviews will be transcribed and anonymised, so no one will be able to identify them.

The BDA are helping to advertise for Deaf participants as the research will go to them at the end to help their advocacy department raise awareness of inequalities and prepare Deaf people for entering the legal system.

But, essentially, I still need a lot of help. So, if you think you know anyone, Deaf or hearing, who might fit the criteria and be willing to volunteer, I’d be really grateful if you could pass on the information. Interviews will be held over June and July - as soon as possible really.

You can contact me through my academic e-mail address.

Chicago

Went to see Chicago at the New Theatre last night with Suki and my French housemate, Eric.

It was brilliant. I'd wanted to see it for aaaages. Very sexy. We started with a drink at Fat Cat's, which is a bar opposite the theatre, and ended with one at the Wig & Pen. Was a really pleasant evening and Eric and I grabbed some food from the chippie on the way home. He's off back to France until next Wednesday and we've yet to take him on a propper night out with the gang, so will organise that for his return.

The Vegetarian Food Studio

Went out for a meal last Friday at the Vegetarian Food Studio on Penarth Road, Cardiff. 100% recommend it. The food's amazing - traditional Indian through to Oriental. All vegy and vegan. Plus a proper Indian sweet counter with my favourite sweet in all the world: Peda. So I walked out with a large box under my arm :op

Also in vegy news this week: Mars made a big boo boo by removing all of their products from the 'suitable for vegetarians' range (Monday 14th) by adding rennet to them! Then did a spectacular U-turn six days later (Sunday 20th) after pressure from a petition by outraged vegyvores nation-wide. All power to the people!

All TEFLed Out

This broadcast is brought to you by a very sleepy lady :)o\

This weekend I’ve been on a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course with i-2-i in Cardiff. It was really intensive, starting at 9am Saturday morning for 11 hours, then again today for nine hours. In between (i.e. last night) I went for a celebratory drink at the Rummer with one of the guys, to congratulate ourselves on surviving the 11 hours. Only, the one drink perhaps turned into three or four drinks, and we were feeling a little fragile this morning! Ho hum.

But, it was completely worth it. So much was covered, from teaching grammar, intonation and stress, through to student-teacher interaction, eliciting correct responses, and encouraging free interaction. It was full-on, but there were 16 of us in the class and we all gelled so well. We had a really good laugh along the way. Such a range of backgrounds too, from people in their 40s who fancied a career change to people in their early 20s looking for an adventure. We've set up an e-group to keep in contact.

I'd strongly recommend this to anyone who fancies living and working abroad. The course was incredibly helpful and i-2-i give you access to quite a few resources. I've already done their online grammar course and I’m now going to do their 'teaching business English' one.

I've still got my fingers crossed for VSO, who have said:

Many thanks for your recent application to VSO and your interest in contributing to our work. We recognise that you have very valuable skills and experience, and are currently talking to our programme offices overseas to see whether there would be any suitable placements for you.

We will be in touch again shortly.

But I’m not holding my breath as it's quite hard to get in with them. If they don't have anything, TEFL would be an excellent alternative. Both of these would be sustainable ways of travelling, which would mean that I could stay abroad for longer and see more places.

By the way 'Happy Birthday Phil,' who's 26 today! I was all up for going out and joining in the celebrations down PC's tonight, but then I fell asleep - I was absolutely shattered. When I woke, I treated myself to an Indian from City Balti - very nice vegy potato-ey curry, rice, onion bhajia and coconut naan bread (enough for two meals) for £10.40 including delivery. Good stuff :)

Lock, Stock and One Smoking Barrel

Last night I joined the rifle club :)

I've been looking for a new sport and, although not particularly physically demanding, I thought this could be good for my focus and possibly quite relaxing. I'd tried fencing in the past but wasn't particularly gifted and hadn't enjoyed the atmosphere of the two clubs I’d been to - both very male dominated, a bit aloof. I didn't feel that I knew the basics before I was thrown into it. 

I have to admit, though, shooting is not something I’ve always had a burning desire for. I assumed there was probably a lot less skill involved than fencing. A 'point and click' sport. I also shared the concern that it would be full of red-necked 'yee ha' sorts, bragging about the size of their weapons. As with a lot of things, if it has such a strong stereotypical and media-fuelled persona, I’m curious to find out whether it's true. In this case, it wasn't.

I started by e-mailing the club. It took some time for them to get back to me. Eventually they did, and I had to fill out my details and consent to a police check before they could allow me through the door. The police check only took about a week, then they e-mailed me directions so that I could go for my induction and safety training.

The club itself is well hidden and you couldn't tell from the outside of the building what was going on inside. It has a thick door with a light above. You know if someone's in if the light's on, then you knock and someone answers. It really does have that 'secret club' feel about it, for obvious reasons. It made me wonder how many other buildings I pass, whilst wandering about town, might have something strange and clandestine going on behind their doors :op

It was a quiet night with only three young lads and two older members. Apparently, different people go on different nights. It's open four nights a week and you can go as often as you like. I started with my safety training. We were shooting .22 Anschutz small-bore bolt rifles, like this:

It's illegal to have automatic handguns in the UK, but you can fire 'black powder' guns. Powder guns are the ones you have to load yourself with the powder and shot - sort of Pirates of the Caribbean style. It's also illegal to carry ammo without a license, even without the gun. Many people don't own black powder guns because, in order to do so, you not only need a gun license but an explosives license for the powder. If you have one of those, the police are allowed to turn up and search your home any time they like without a warrant - it puts a lot of people off the idea.

During the safety training, I got to see what a .22 rifle could do to 10 sheets of mahogany and a lump of hard putty the size of my fist. You wouldn't be coming back. Bit of a step-up from the air rifles that had inspired me (I came top of the class during a summer activity course when I was in my teens - won an Aero!) and instilled a respect for weapons. I was then taught safety procedures such as loading the gun with a plastic green flag when it's empty, then the basics of how to work the locking chamber and fire.

All of this seemed pretty straightforward and I was thinking 'yeah, easy enough.' Then came the lesson on how to position yourself. At this point, I lost the image of standing at a shooting range, and started to realise just what was really involved.

First off, you're not standing up. You're lying down on your stomach. I'm right-handed, so I lie with my right leg bent, angled slightly on my left side, to give my diaphragm space. I'm propped on my left elbow, which is my supporting arm for the rifle. The right hand is free to load the ammo and pull the trigger. So you look a bit like this:

You wear a jacket that is about two sizes too small for you. Mine didn't even do up at the front. It's made out of tough canvas material. The idea is that the jacket is so tight that, when you're lying in that position, you can relax every bone in your body but the tension across the shoulders and arms will hold your position. This is important for reasons I’ll go into in a minute.

In addition to the tightness of the jacket, you also have a belt strap around your upper left arm. It's pretty tight, like you're about to inject yourself with something! So, one end is tight around your left upper arm, and the other end has a hook that attaches to the underside of the rifle. Your left arm is the one that holds/supports the rifle, so you have a glove on that hand. With the rifle resting against your right shoulder, you put that gloved left hand over the top of the strap and hold the rifle up against where the strap joins the gun. It's pretty hard to explain, and I’ve only found one picture on another site (hope they won't mind me borrowing it!). It doesn't really show it that well, but it sort of gives the idea:

This is where the suit comes in, because your left arm is supposed to be completely relaxed. You don't hold the gun so much as rest it. The tension in the jacket across the top of your shoulders, when in position, keeps the tension even though you're relaxed. Your right arm, when it's not loading, is also resting quite high (if you're standing up and you bring both elbows up to your chin you're about there) along the trigger, with the butt of the gun resting against your right shoulder. You then have two sights that you line up.

It's a pretty intense position to hold. After two rounds (ten shots) my left arm had gone dead, my elbow was sore, and my neck was stiff. Was 100% worth it though, and apparently you get used to the position. I was really surprised how small the targets were. I assumed you'd be able to see the rings on it, but at 25 yards it was a small black dot on a wall far, far away. Seriously, when I first saw it, I had no idea on earth how anyone could hit it with any degree of accuracy. It was tiny. I was also surprised how light the trigger was. You barely had to squeeze it to fire, but there wasn't much kick-back. Barely noticeable really - more than an air rifle, but not very impressive :op

I have to say, I came away grinning. I only shot four rounds, it was getting late by the time I’d finished my induction, but it was enough to give me a taster. I absolutely loved it. The skill comes not from hitting the target, but from doing it with any degree of consistency. Especially when you have to reload in between each shot, and the slightest movement can send your next bullet way off course.

It's like a meditation - one which women are usually better at than men, according to my instructor! Once you line up your sight with the little black dot in the middle of the target, you have to relax. You steady your breathing and then you breathe right out - all the way out - and wait for a second. Once you're completely and totally still, that's the point at which you fire. Problem is, if you pause too long you start to see things, you can't be sure you're lined up because you're focusing too hard on the target. To remedy this, you close both eyes then open them again to see if you're still aiming at the same thing. It's a very strange sensation to be so uncomfortable yet so relaxed. When you breathe out and lie there, completely still, it is this wonderful place. I really enjoyed it.

So, how did I do?

Well, my first attempt was pretty darn good. Check out the baby dead in the middle!

Little high, though. Second was better - more consistent, but one 'wayward' bullet:

The next card, I was a bit flustered when I started. The three lads were having a competition and I was trying to get ready when they'd already started. I was struggling to relax and I ended up trying to write my name on it :op

I knew I’d done badly on that one, but I relaxed much better on the second round. Still wasn't sure I’d done okay, though. I was utterly stoked when we went to collect the paper! What an awesome round to go out on - I was so proud :oD

So, I have learned that there is actually a lot of skill involved in rifle shooting and it's a lot harder than I imagined - and a lot more uncomfortable! But it was great fun. I’ll def. be going again next week. As sports go, it's also really cheap. There's an annual membership fee of around £40, it was £5 for the induction training, £50p each time you turn up to use the range, and about £2.50 for a round of 50 low-grade bullets.

Yay for guns! :oD

Dreading It

Got up at 6am this morning to go dread hair with my new apprentice :) We were starting at 8:00 and I was picking her up on the way. My original trainee, Cat, had to pull out as she got a new full-time job, so couldn't carry on. Luckily, Esme was available to step in, and she did really well. This was the first time we'd worked together. What would have taken me about twelve hours on my own took only seven between us!

We managed to create this:

I did the right side, she did the left. Pretty groovy, huh? :)

Also had a lovely client the other day with utterly beautiful dreads. I was taking business cards around shops in town and she was working behind the counter at the crystal shop in the arcade. She'd dreaded them entirely by herself! Very impressive:

Really glad to have found someone to take it on when I leave. Clients will be relieved :)

Time to Unwind

I am in a state of absolute happy contentment.

Today was the deadline for my final essays. I've now finished the taught part of my MA! I can't believe how fast time has gone. I’m sitting here now in my attic, listening to the torrential rain on the window outside and thinking how far I’ve come in the past six months.

I walked into uni this morning with a bag as heavy as bricks: one research folder, a sociolinguistics essay, and several big books that needed returning to the library. I'd arranged to meet with my friends Hanna and Suzanne so that we could hand them all in together. Hanna was running late, but another friend, Kerry, joined us and we offloaded our burden to the office.

We then adjourned to a nearby café for brunch, where Hanna caught up with us. Having spent the past two weeks finding every possible distraction to avoid writing essays, now that I have nothing left to avoid, I feel sort of empty - I don't know what to do with myself!

We sat and chatted for ages, then headed into town where we parted company. It was weird knowing that we weren't going to see each other every week anymore. It's all over. But we're going to arrange to get together now and then to hold 'dissertation escapism' sessions.

On the way home, I treated myself to some new shoes and a yummy BBQ Quorn baguette and caramel flapjack from the best sandwich shop in the whole of Cardiff. Also stopped to rescue a li'le spider from a puddle lol Plus, dropped off a business card at the crystal shop and got an instant customer!

Got home, got out of wet clothes (it's been raining all week here) and put on my current favourite 'don't have to think' film, which is the 2005 Pride & Prejudice (yes, get over it). I've about worn the DVD out.

And now I am chilling with the still *aak aak* until drinkypoos at PC's tonight with the gang.

Everything's got that groovy vibe right now :)

Ah, Nuts

Peanut Zombie

Heehee. I'm addicted to peanut butter. It's one of my ultimate comfort foods and I can easily get through a whole jar of it whilst sitting writing essays! It's my dirty li'le secret. I was starting to feel really bad about just how much peanut butter I was eating (I dip the handle of a teaspoon in the pot and lick it off like a lollypop!) when someone pointed the following site out to me.

I was just amazed that there was a British Peanut Council! :op

So, now I feel worlds better. And what's even more fantastic is that occasionally I treat myself at the local Chinese supermarket where I tend to shop. They have these things called 'peanut puff rolls,' imported from Vietnam - they're heavenly. Like crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth stuff that goes all chewy... Thing is, I used to think they were sending me straight for a coronary, until I read the nutritious information on the back and was strangely put at ease :oD

Calories per serving: 16

Calories from fat: 0

Total fat: 0g

Saturated fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 0g

Sodium: 4g

Dietary fibre: 0g

Sugar: 3g

Protein: 0g

Percentage of daily recommended dose: Vit A 10%, Vit C 10%, Calcium 0,50% (?) and iron 0,01%

Hmmm... me thinks someone's telling porkies lol But boy, do I feel good about myself!

A Direct Train/Bus/Train to Bath...

Went out drinking in Bath for bank holiday Monday with my friend Graeme, and met up with a friend-of-a-friend-cum-friend, Gyrus. Forgot that bank holidays were the favourite day of the railroad workers, though. No direct trains from Caerdydd to Bath, so it was a train to Bristol Parkway, bus to Temple Meads, train to Bath. Fun, fun, fun until you stay in the pub drinking too long and panic about whether the very last bus will 1. show up and 2. make the connection. All turned out alright though, but they made us wait for the bus down a long tunnel reminiscent of Fagin’s lair in Oliver Twist - water dripping from the ceiling, a cold chill blowing through, and several destitute commuters huddling for warmth on cold metal benches.

Still, got home fine, and had a good natter in Bath. Now got three days before the 'big deadline' when all essays from the taught part of my course have to be in. My target today was to write 500 words on Welsh People. I refused to let myself near the internet until then, knowing how easily I’m distracted, but I’ve just been sitting here filing my nails and staring at the wall instead. I'm averaging about 20 words an hour at the moment - whizzing through it like a snail on valium. It's not floating my boat to the extent that it's sunk.

Still, just plodding on. All will be right by Friday and then the celebrations shall begin in earnest. Only another 3,200 words to go, mostly a reflexive work for Research Experience on Transcription methods of courtroom data: a feasibility study. Ho hum.

Game of Scrabble anyone? Monopoly? Chess? Tiddlywinks?

Morning Has Broken

It's 5:45 in the morning and I’ve just stumbled up to my room... It is broad daylight outside! I can't believe it :o/

I believe it began around 9pm in The Rummer with Mark and Suki, closely joined by John. We then wandered over to O'Neil's on Saint Mary's Street to meet up with Gedge and his pool buddies. John's friend also joined us. We drank and chair danced the night away. When that closed at about 1am, Mark headed home and the rest of us meandered to Exit, which was pretty empty, but plenty of cheesy music and a dance floor all to ourselves upstairs. That closed around 3am and we made our way across the road to Club X, where we stayed until closing time. Which is when I noticed the daylight! I don't even remember the last time I left a club and it was daylight.

I'm hungry now, but tiredness takes priority. So need to sleep this off. Supposed to go to a music festival tomorrow but I shall see what time I wake up, if at all - may sleep this through 'til Monday!

Sweet dreams everybody - enjoy the sunrise!

Beltane Fire Moon

Tinkinswood Sunset

Last night was one that I think I shall remember forever.

I head out to Tinkinswood each full moon. Last month I was sitting there thinking 'wouldn't this be a wonderful place for a gathering at Beltane?' I wasn't completely sure though, as she's such a quiet place usually - would it be a disturbance?

I put together a yahoo e-group called Unearthed. Basically, it said:

Fancy good company, fresh air and a bite to eat?

This e-group is for healthy heathen folk and all such in the South Wales area who are interested in gathering together for a Beltane celebration on the evening of Wednesday 2nd May 2007 at Tinkinswood cromlech. Beltane is an ancient calibration of fertility and the start of Summer. Wednesday 2nd will be the May full moon (also an auspicious date for Buddhists!)

• This is not an organised event. It is simply people turning up to the same place at the same time.
• This non-event is in no way connected to, or affiliated with, CADW who 'own' the site.
• This un-event is completely FREE.
• As such, all people attending are responsible for themselves and their litter.

This un-event is simply one of community spirit. As such:

• Bring food/drink to share
• If you play an instrument (drums/violin/tin whistle/whatever), bring it along!
• It's a family non-event, so bring everybody.

If you like the sound of this, join the group.

I waited to see what would happen. Only about 10 people joined, but I also put it out on Witchvox, CUPS, Facebook etc. Advertised it around town with flyers (which is how I heard about Triban) and on the uni forum and Bogiez Rock Forum.

By the time it came around, I thought maybe there'd be five or six people turn up.

It was quite a hectic day. I was planning on just chilling out and getting some food ready, but then the phone fiasco happened and I ended up trudging across town to a guest lecture, which didn't finish until half-three, rushing home and getting everything as ready as I could. I wasn't relaxed when I left the house, and had to swing by Tescos for disposable BBQs.

I did get a call before I left, from some of the Cardiff University Pagan society (CUPS) lot saying they were on their way, which was encouraging.

I pulled up and was disheartened to see that I was the only one there, although I could see people from CUPs already up at the site; they'd come by bus. But no one else. I waved like a mad thing to try and get someone to come down and help with my bags of food and blankets, but no one saw me. Wondering how on earth I’d get everything up there, a car pulled up with three people in. They were just helping with my bags when another lady arrived. We all trudged up to the cromlech and settled ourselves down, getting the food out.

"Look! People!" came the cry, as yet more bods were seen walking from the lay-by and then still more from across the opposite field. People started coming from all directions! Within a couple of hours there were 30-40 people. Drums, whistles, flutes, voices. I could not believe it, it was fantastic.

Some people count Beltane as the 1st May, others the 6th or whenever. But I chose this night because of the full moon. That, to me, is the night of celebration. Yet, as the sun set, there was no sign of the moon. People started to speculate. Perhaps there was too much cloud? Yet there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Where was the moon?

It got darker and darker. Then, all of a sudden, Dafydd nudged me and said 'I think that's the moon.' Where, I was thinking... nooo, you can't mean...

But it was. This bright, bright, red fiery ball rising from behind an inken tree silhouette. 'Now that is a blood moon,' I replied. I’d never seen it such a colour in my life. It was rising quickly and, as it did, changed from blood red to bright orange like the sun. Everybody stopped what they were doing and stared. It was the most unbelievably beautiful moon rise.

The singing and the drumming resumed. Mead was quaffed from a drinking horn and the children were shepherded off home to bed. Candles replaced daylight, and a wonderful atmosphere lingered on until the last of us packed away our things, collected up all stray litter, and made our way back towards the cars and bus stop. By the time we left, the moon wash high in the sky and bright, crisp white, casting a pathway to the gates of the tomb.

People wouldn't have come if she hadn't've wanted them to. I swear I saw her smiling as we left her with her lover and headed off home, into the darkness.

Good night Tinkinswood, blesséd be and merry, debaucherous Beltane. ;)

The Darndest Thing

Realised late last night that my moby wasn't in the house. After ringing it a number of times and checking everywhere I could think, I suddenly realised that I must have left it somewhere at uni.

I wasn't going in today but, as I was going to search for the phone anyway, I was hoping that I might run into a couple of my friends. There was a Forensics lecture in the afternoon that I thought I’d catch - make the trip worthwhile.

I got there and almost instinctively knew where my phone was. I'd been sitting under a tree reading a book the day before and using my phone to check the time, make sure I wasn't late for Sociolinguistics. I felt that's where it had to be.

So I wandered outside to the exact same tree where not only did I find the missing phone exactly where it had been yesterday, but I also found my two friends Hanna and Suzanne sitting on a bench right next to it. How bizarre!

I'm lucky like that, though. I once left my bag in the loos at Reading Festival and only realised about half an hour later. When I went back, the bag was still there with everything in it.

The flookiest was New Year's Eve in Sydney with Phil. We'd sat on a wall for a moment's rest with thousands of people thronging around us. It wasn't until we reached the station that I realised I’d let go of my bag. It had my money, bank card, everything in it. We turned around in a mad panic to go find it, when this police woman casually strolled towards us. 'Isn't that your bag?' Phil asked in astonishment.... So weird, it was like it'd come to find me.

So, phone rescued and none the worse for its night under the stars. Unlike the last one I took on outdoor pursuits, again in Australia, where I left it in a bowl in the canopy/living area of the tent, but too close to the edge. It rained in the night and the bowl filled up with water! Ooops :)