If you’d told me 12 months ago I would be writing this blog I would have laughed in disbelief. But times change and it does heal too. Not to disregard all the hard work I’ve put into reversing the effects of being bullied and recovering from depression. The past few weeks I have really come into my own and the past fortnight I have not only felt like I’m back to being “Helen” but that I may even be finding confidence in some areas of my life I didn’t have …

So Christmas has been the season of merriment and I’ve been well enough to succeed in doing all the things that happen at this time of year! I’m looking forward to chilling out the next few days and recharging the batteries as I am very tired as a result… even writing is a bit of a struggle and that’s never a good sign (hence the demise of blogging since Boxing Day). There’s also been a bit of coughing and sneezing so I’m just praying I don’t get a full blown …

Today’s ‘Five…‘ is photography. At the end of 2008 I bought a DSLR off one of my very best friends, @pirateboots, who decided I would make better use of it than she would. I added a Nikon 50mm f1.8 lens to my kit earlier this year and with the help of @GraemeWatson have developed (excuse the pun!) my skill and love of photography.
Narrowing it down to my five favourite images has been tough. It’s nice to have so many images that I’m proud of. Those that didn’t make it can …

For the second time this week I find myself aware of the tripe that is contained in The Daily Mail without ever picking it up, let alone wanting to read it.
In this case it was what had been written, I don’t dare call it journalism, by Jan Moir about the untimely death of Stephen Gately. The article was originally called ‘Why there was nothing ‘natural’ about Stephen Gately’s death’. The later change in title doesn’t mask the shoddy lack of any talent or integrity in the writing. After stating “All …

My blog has existed in various guises since 6th February 2007 but took a whacking fourteen month break before recommencing in October 2008 to make me determined that this time my blog was here to stay.  My 100th blog comes only days after the six month anniversary of it finding a permanent residence at helenthornber.com. In those six months I’ve entertained almost 2000 unique visitors from 55 countries. Not including anyone who reads this via Facebook. That is something I am very proud of.

On the 1st October it will be …

I have been single for the past six years. During that time I’ve tried speed dating, internet dating sites and the regular kind of “meet someone in real life” dating. I have had times that I have thoroughly enjoyed my singleness and the freedom it brings of doing what I want, when I want, without having to constantly consider someone else. I’ve been able to work like a maniac without guilt, and take off at short notice to do exciting things with friends.
I’ve also learned how to pick myself up …

If you’re expecting a recipe for a traditional Welsh dish I apologise in advance (but there is one here). It does seem to be a fact in my world however that the Welsh are a bit rare. (Bad pun, I know… but it was just too obvious not to use it!)
I found myself excited yesterday when I discovered I finally had a blog reader in Wales. South East Wales. Talbot Green to be precise. (A big hello if you are said person!!!). I was more excited about my blog reader …

If you’re new to my blog you might want to read ‘The Real Me’ to put this blog into context.
The past two weeks I’ve been focussing on getting healthy so I have more energy. This came out of getting fed up of of feeling “meh” far too often. The depression has retreated for now but I’m still feeling a bit flat. I thought a fortnight of doing all the right stuff would have me dancing on the rooftops. It hasn’t. Though I have lost 4lb along the way. However that …

I’ve finally got around to updating my Flickr Photostream and I thought I’d use todays blog to give you a sneak peak.
Flickr is another thing in the realm of “social networking” that it took me a while to get to grips with (see my post RSS… WTF!) but now I love it for showing off the best of my photography. I find that with my Nikon D40 I’m now taking hundreds of photos but getting some fantastic results, sometimes completely by accident! For example at Lucy & Dave’s Wedding I …

Sunday before last (I know I’m a little late with the blog!) I celebrated my twenty-sixth birthday and there are usually a few things you can guarantee on or around the date of the 24th May.
The first is sunshine. Every year without fail it has been sunny for whatever birthday celebration or event is planned. When I was little it stayed dry for obsticle courses and treasure hunts. On my 16th I sat in the backgarden revising for a GCSEs. On my 18th we took a break from revision …

You may have spotted my absence over the past week or so. Sincere apologies. Easter in the Thornber household is always slightly chaotic and finding a quiet corner to pen my blog is near impossible, especially with one niece or another requesting use of my Mac. Even the two year old was in on the act requesting (demanding) “Pat-A-Cake” to be played over and over again on the cbeebies website.

Family Easters are fantastic yet exhausting. We’re not exactly the quietest bunch, and we have an opinion or few between us …

Having finally cast off the bad dreams of perpetual dehydration (so horrible I think they class as nightmares) it is finally safe to say I am on the mend. Although still resting in bed the symptoms are reducing and the headaches retreating. I thought I might speed up final recovery by thinking about things I am looking forward to in the coming weeks.
Easter weekend is a good place to start. Today is a fortnight until Good Friday. Easter weekend means many things – Bank Holidays, seeing family and friends, lots …