I’ve not got a huge amount planned for over the summer – I’d love to get a part-time job but there’s just nothing going so that’s a bit annoying.  I’m going to Menorca in September for two weeks so that should be good, and my friend wants to go to Paris for a weekend sometime in August so hopefully we will be able to do that.

The only time that I have been apart from Cara for two weeks was when I went to Florida in 2007 so I think it will be difficult but I know she’ll be looked after well by my brother/sister and I’m sure she’ll enjoy the break.

Well it’s the end of my first year at Warwick now and it has been fantastic. The past six, seven weeks have just consisted of manic revision because I’d left it all until the last minute. My last exam was at the end of June and it was a relief for them to be over. I was really nervous because two out of the four exams weren’t great but we got our results last week and I achieved a 2:1 so I’m really pleased and everyone was very proud. Basically the last week at uni was just spent going out and seeing everyone before they started going home for the summer.

It was also my 19th birthday on July 4th so that was really good as well. If I’m completely honest, doing a pure Sociology degree was just a tad bit tedious for me – I still love it but a lot of my friends do joint degrees and seem to enjoy them a lot more. One joint degree that Warwick offers is a joint Sociology with Politics (I know what you’re thinking but its more about International relations than pure politics) so I went and spoke to the department about entering the second year and doing the joint – they wanted a 2:1 which I got so I’ve got a few weeks to decide whether I want to pursue it.

I’m obviously a bit scared because it would be a risk having not done the first year but any results from the first year don’t count towards the final grade. Also, the Sociology department are aware of what my needs are and have really adapted to these without a fuss – obviously it would mean starting over again with a new department so I was advised to really consider this. I think I’ll go to the politics department and gain their opinion – they did say that people do it every year and its all fine, so I don’t know lol.

Well the last few weeks have been OK, mainly just finishing the essays, which now means the start of revision for exams in two weeks.
It was my friends engagement party last weekend which was great, they’ve been together for a while so it looks promising.  I didn’t take Cara though – people accidentally stand on her paws, and I don’t think its fair with all the loud music.  I was OK with that because I was with reliable friends.  She stayed with my brother and he said she stared at the door for about an hour, but then my nephew Harry came round so I’m sure she got a few sneaky treats! Then Andrew said she just slept – no surprises there.  When I got back I think she probably woke up the whole house with her really loud barks – people say she sounds like a guard dog not a guide dog when anyone comes to the door.  I think she just puts it on because she’d be the one running scared! Harry proves that when he comes round

We also got some great news – last week my sister found out she’s 5+ weeks pregnant so everyone’s delighted!  The baby is due between the 20th/30th December so probably a Christmas baby.  She said she doesn’t want to know the gender so it will be a surprise!

Hope your all OK! Andrea and Cara. x

My friends haven’t done much more than me so I don’t feel too bad.  Anyway I start back on the 26^th April with only a few revision lectures and seminars to prepare for exams which are in the middle of June, so not far.  At least for my course, the exams I take in the first year don’t count towards the final grade so that’s good.

So over the next few weeks I should be revising but I probably won’t start straight away because even though my friends from home have gone back to uni, my other friends are returning to uni and its been five weeks since I’ve seen them so there will be some catching up to do.

It was the start of the Easter hols when I wrote and now I start back at uni in a few days.  The holidays have flown in and like I said in the last blog, I probably wouldn’t get much work done and I haven’t!  I’ve only done two out of four essays and the deadline is the 4^th May so I’m cutting it short but never mind.

It was great seeing all of my friends when they came back from uni at the start of Easter.  Basically the first few weeks were just spent meeting up with them and going out.  One of my friends who isn’t at uni, has been away for a year travelling the world so it was great to see her again.  We went to London for a weekend which was really good and expensive lol.  We went to see the Lion King at the theatre which was brill and I’d never been on the Eye so that was good too – pity it was raining though.  Obviously we went shopping, went to Hyde Park and on the Original Tour Bus.  Seeing the Lion King was the best though.  I chose not to take Cara because I thought it would be good for both of us to have a break but I think it was practical as well, as we had to get on the underground a lot which would have been a nightmare for her as the tubes were packed solid – she would have been crushed.  She was excited to see me when I got back and my brother said she enjoyed not having to work and being lazy so I didn’t feel bad.

Andrea Cooper with her guide dog Cara.

Well Guide Dogs have asked me if I’ll start a blog to keep you all up to date with what’s going on, so hopefully I won’t bore you to death! The blog will coincide with the Guide Dogs campaign which aims to raise both awareness and funds for a scheme that they want to launch nationwide – allowing young adults aged 17 and under to own a guide dog.

It’s now just under four years since I started training with my guide dog, Cara as part of a pilot project to see if the above could succeed, and I’m proud to say that it has! She started year 11 with me at my local school, and was accepted by everybody, and so became my lifeline to increased confidence and independence. This was also true for the others who took part in the scheme, and so gives a really good basis for the widespread launch of the appeal.

Well I’ve been at Warwick University since October and I’m studying Sociology which has been great! Not living on campus means that Cara is in her element with the one-hour bus journey to and from uni everyday lol

The social aspects have been great but the academic side is becoming more difficult now though because of assessed essays which are a nightmare! I’ve got four 2,000 word essays to write which range from how the media amplifies terror to capture an audience, to British colonialism and domination – Joy.

Anyway it’s the start of the Easter holidays and so I’ve got 6 weeks to do them, but I can’t seem to get started. Loads of my friends are coming back to Cov for the hols, and so that might take over! I’ll let you know how I get on ..