Casper the friendly dog

I've just received some very sad news about my Grandma and Grandpa's dog. Most of us probably don't get that attached to other people's dogs but I've spent 10 years loving this one and because he was such an amazing dog, I think he deserves a blog post about him.

His name was Casper... the friendly dog. He was a gorgeous Bichon Frise that loved everyone and was loved by everyone also. He was such a character! If we were sat eating our lunch in the lounge, he'd go and fetch his bowl from the kitchen (empty bowl, because he'd already eaten) and he'd bring it into the lounge and just sit with it in front of him so he didn't feel left out.

If my grandparents were out and we were staying at the house, he'd go and sit on top of the back of the chair by the window and watch until they got back. There was no doubt he loved his mum and dad!

There wasn't a bad bone in him. Never bit anyone, never snapped, yes he did bark but it was never a nasty bark, it was just his way of saying hello. He'd greet everyone who came through the door.

Once when I wasn't very well, I was curled up on the sofa with a blanket over me and he jumped up onto the settee and sat with me until I started feeling okay again. He didn't leave my side once.

He's always been so full of life and no doubt he still tried his best to stay happy until the end. We'd take him to the park and he'd run around for ages! He'd occasionally come back to us and check to see if my grandma was still there and he'd run up to her, stop, look at her as if to say 'Am I okay to go running around again?' and then he'd shoot off again! He'd do this a few times as well.

He loved going on walks. Even if someone quietly mentioned a walk, he'd start barking and get excited and then once we'd managed to get the lead on him, he'd drag us to the door. If I took him a walk (he probably did this with my grandma and anyone else who took him a walk as well) and I'd taken someone else with me, if that person was just a little bit ahead of Casper, he'd pull and pull until he was the one in front again. He didn't like anyone in front apart from himself!

We was so loveable and loyal, the perfect dog. He was such a character as well, I've never known a dog to be as crazy and wonderful as Casper. He will definitely, without a doubt, be missed and we will always love him and remember him, and so will everyone who met him. Rest in Peace my baby boy, forever loved. xxx

2011!!

Out with the old, in with the new. Bring all the best stuff from 2011, through to 2012 and leave all the crap behind.

Well! Another year gone! and what a year it's been. Full of good and bad, ups and downs, excitements and disappointments- well, it would be no fun if it was all good stuff! We all need a bit of drama to make life more exciting!!

Let's start from the beginning. I turned 17 in January- had a sleepover (never too old for sleepovers!) with Liv Gamble and Lauren Bramley and then the day after I went shopping with the girls from college and then we went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1.

In March I auditioned for X Factor. Queued outside from half 7ish in the morning until about 12ish and then when we finally got into the Birmingham arena, after standing up for about 5 hours, we then had to sit down for another 3 and half hours. It was eventually my turn to audition and I went into the little booth and sung in front of one of the producers but my voice shook so he simply said no. Can't be bothered to audition this year! I'm not queuing for that long hopefully ever again! That's just mad! A good thing came out of it though, I got to meet the lovely Andrew Buxton who was stood behind us in the queue. He got through to the next round but didn't get through the next one unfortunately. We've stayed in touch though through Facebook and we've found that we're just as random as each other and we both love Doctor Who!

April was of course the wedding of Kate and Prince William. Spent the day at Tim and Shell Gough's, out in the garden. We had a BBQ and it was just a great day! Kate looked stunning! and I also had another wedding in April (the day after actually)- Helena and Albert Burton from church got married in the Methodist church in Chesterfield,and then they had their reception at the Riverside club.

Bin Laden was found and killed in May- Justice has finally been done! and another thing that happened in May was that Jedward were in the Eurovision song contest!! They were awesome, I was pretty pleased with their performance to be honest. Blue sung for us, they were good but Lee messed up one of his high notes, probably due to nerves.

In July me, Sarah Allen and Lauren Bramley went to T4 on the beach! It was a bit of a fail on my part cause I wasn't well, nearly fainted because of the heat and ended up leaving early but Sarah and Lauren enjoyed it! And we had a lovely girly weekend- saw Bridesmaids, went shopping, went to an Italian restaurant, went on the beach, went on the Pier and we even managed to have breakfast in the garden which I always like doing. It was great!

Also in July Amy Winehouse was found dead in her house- the whole nation was devastated at the loss of a fantastic singer, Rest in peace Amy.

In August we had the riots in the major cities in England which lasted about 4 days? Don't quote me on it! That was a bit scary, lots of people were injured badly, buildings were burned, a few people even died. We were okay cause we're out in the country but a lot of people weren't as fortunate as us and had to deal with it.

We went away in August to Wales- blaenau ffestiniog- where we stayed in a gorgeous little cottage surrounded by hills and countryside, it was stunning! We visited about 4 castles and got to see the smallest house in Great Britain! It was TINY!! No idea how someone can live in it. It was a good holiday overall and I now want to live in a cottage!!

I started back at college in September after a VERY long summer break. It's been stressful since being back at college, we've all been working non stop with 4 projects on the go. We've now finished theory (film studies) though!! Just got all the production stuff to do now but before we know it, we'll have finished college, with only 5 months to go!

So, not much has really happened since September so I'll just point out a few more things that have happened in the year-

Sarah Allen and Dean Wood got engaged as well as Rachel Churm and Ben Draper- 4 of my good friends from church. I wish them all the best in the future and that they have long and happy lives together!!

We had two Stockdale outings- one to some locks somewhere (can't remember!) and one to Elvaston Castle- both outings were very hot days!! But we all had a nice time.

Went to a Mad Hatter's tea party in the summer with the youth. It was fantastic! Everyone did so well with their hats, they were amazing!

Oh and how could I forget the end of an era!! This year was the last of the Harry Potter films! I've grown up with Harry Potter so that was a sad time. So many memories and they're such amazing films!

I think I'm all ... I would say talked out but I suppose it's got to be typed out.... well you know what I mean!! 2011 has been a year of challenges for me but a fantastic year nonetheless. Let's see what 2012 brings!

Happy new year everyone! May 2012 be a year of love, joy, peace and good health for you all!!