Hi everyone!

This week, we are likely to see the easing of some of the COVID-19 restrictions in England as the government brings to an end the “stay at home” rule and gatherings of up to six people will be permitted in outdoor settings. This is very encouraging news especially as we near the Easter celebration.

In this blog post I thought I’d share a quick catch-up of what I have been up to up until this point of the year. It is now nearly 8 and a half months since I began my placement and I must admit, this year has been a particularly rich environment for the development of my employability. I am almost due to meet my placement tutor for our second meeting next month. Through the year, we have a total of three meetings which are now taking place virtually due to the lockdown. I am increasingly inspired by the University’s involvement in my professional development by way of these meetings especially because they are a means of evaluating my performance and help to create a framework to support a development plan for the rest of the year. Career-wise, this is where I am at. Socially, like many people during this lockdown period, I picked up a new hobby that I could practise in my home and which I have now really come to enjoy. If the title of this blog post still has not given it away, my new hobby is officially baking!

I must admit that I was a little late to the party. It started off as a simple way to spend the few extra hours I had in the week; first I had a box of Betty Crocker cake mix at hand and now, I am taking on my own initiative to come up with beautiful and tasty creations. Even during busy weeks at work, my new hobby serves as a form of therapy allowing me to tap into my spring of creativity and escape from the hustle and bustle of the world outside of my kitchen.

I even decided to set some challenges for myself to expand my baking skills, and although I am not an expert yet, I can boast of having created both vegan and gluten free delights. There is an incredible community online of newly self-appointed bakers, just like myself, who have inspired a myriad of Instagram and tiktok recipes, some of which I have also followed! (information as to whether the recipes turned out delicious is on a knead-to-know basis 😀 ). Here are some pictures of some of the things I have made in the past:

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Hoping and praying that everyone remains safe during this time.

That’s all for now folks,

Best,

Anne