Body Scrub-a-dub-dub

Howdy!

Is it just me, or does the warmer weather play havoc with your skin?  Mine tends to be kinda dry, flaky and sensitive at times anyway, no matter what the season, but lately even moisturising daily hasn't helped!  So I realised that maybe I need to tackle the skin problem more head-on and address the scrubbing action...

1st year officially done!

Ok, so I can't believe I've already finished my first year at uni - seems like just yesterday when I was applying!

We've already had a transition meeting for going into 2nd year and I must admit I felt really daunted at first, not knowing what to expect.  But I've now got a better idea of what it will be like - which will apparently involve lots of case studies, for both reflexology and aromatherapy.

The end of first year approaches...

Just a short post to celebrate the fact that I'm nearly done with my first year - yay!

Got the results back from my aromatherapy today - got an A for my practical exam and a B for the essay, plus a lot of really positive feedback!  So that means the aromatherapy module is a pass.  Add to that a pass for massage, and now all I'm waiting for is the results of my mindfulness assignments and finish off the work for pathology...and then that's me done til September!

Plus now I'm on the other side of recovery from my tonsillectomy, things are much much better - so bring on second year! ;)

First official aromatherapy blend - done!

Up until now, my aromatherapy training has been largely theory-based...but having my tonsils out just felt like too good an opportunity to miss on putting that theory into practice...

Experiencing Illness - Part 2

So I know I had a post on this not that long ago, reflecting on my own illnesses, but it's actually gone on that long now (3 months!) that I got referred to the local ENT clinic last week.  Result?  I'm having a tonsillectomy!

But the thing that I find most interesting is the difference in attitude of people towards illness...

Eco issues: Sandalwood

Ok, so I must admit that until a couple of weeks ago I really had no idea there was such an issue surrounding some essential oils - perhaps down to my misguided optimism assuming that all holistic supplies are harvested ethically.

But not so!

Sandalwood oil (aka Santalum album, or S.album), in particular, has a HUGE controversy surrounding its use at the moment - the trees are basically under threat of extinction, it's that bad!

Hello March, where did you spring from?!?

Sorry, pardon the pun!  But seriously, where has the time gone?  I remember not so long ago I was getting excited about starting the new term, and now we're getting close to the end - well, close to exams and assignment deadlines anyway!

I would just like to say that right now, I despise Student Finance with a passion!

Experiencing Illness

I know I'll have a module called The Experience of Illness sometime next year, as part of my degree, but recent events have got me thinking about this so I just wanted to share my thoughts.

Everyone - or almost everyone - gets ill at some point.  Usually it's a childhood illness or something common like the cold, and these are referred to as "minor" illnesses but I really don't think there's anything minor about any kind of illness.

Sore throats

 
Just while I'm posting, I thought I'd share one of my favourite home-made herbal remedies for tackling a sore throat....

Semester 1 - done!

Wheeeeee!  Completed the 1st semester of my degree program now - struggled to get the last couple of pieces of work handed in (thank you flu!!!) and now enjoying my week off before the new semester starts.

So far, I know I've passed at least one of my modules lol - although I wonder what an A & B average out as when they both carry a 50% weighting....not that it should matter, passing is passing and it doesn't count towards my final degree score, but getting a B actually bums me out lol.  Never mind, my effective interaction is complete - onwards and upwards!

3 months into my degree... and I'm still here!

Yes, I'm still holding on lol - just!  Not quite got a grip on the organisational skills just yet, but I'm surviving!

Overwhelmed...underwhelmed...some kinda "whelmed"!

Ok, so fast forward a couple of weeks and I should be getting into the swing of things now.....I want to be organised and I always mean well, but I still find myself doing my "homework" the night before the class it's for and printing stuff off/reading relevant things at the very last minute!

The trouble I'm having is that there's just SO MUCH to do

It's all so.......different!

Ok, so I'll confess this isn't my first time at university...but it will be my first degree.  Things were a lot different the first time around - the main thing being lack of internet resources!

 

But this time, even with the internet, it doesn't seem to be any easier to find out what's going on!  At the moment, I have access to my entire timetable online, yet I can't figure it out.  I just hope it's not an indication of what's to come lol. 

But the course does sound pretty awesome.  We will be doing T'ai Chi in the mornings before classes, and I've chosen the Holistic Massage pathway - meaning I will be doing Reflexology and Aromatherapy, rather than Shiatsu.  It's been my dream to do this for over 10 years, so I'm happy that I'm finally here!  I also discovered that we are the last intake to the undergraduate degree program, as it's going to be phased out and replaced with a Masters postgraduate course over the next 3 years.  So in a way, it feels like I was meant to be here right now, doing this.

Thank you, universe!