We all like to win things, whether its that egg and spoon race just for fun, a contest we've put days of effort into, or that spontaneous email to tell us we've one that holiday to Barbados in that competition we entered last year.....yes please!

Well you can turn it into a hobby. There are various websites that list endless amounts of competitions, my favourite was loquax but sadly this is closing its comping service, so I am currently testing out the prize finder as a possible alternative. A great way to find competitons is to connect to the community. Moneysavingexpert.com have a specific competition froum where like minded compers post and share the competitions they find.

You have to be open minded though. You can't expect to win a holiday every day. Some people enter competitions for years and never win anything major, a pen here, or a towel there maybe. Its a hobby and you have to enjoy the process of doing it.

You need to create a system. You cant just randomly pick out competitions, how will you remember what youve entered? Some people enter contests that have been listed in date order, or the newest competitions that have been posted, but I like to enter the competitions closing the next day. That way I know I'll never miss one, as long as I pop online for an hour or so each day to enter them. If I know I'll be busy the following day, I'll enter those competitions too. I also only generally enter competitions I want to win, theres no good me winning a babies dummy when I dont have kids! Better to leave that for someone who does genuinely want it!

Ive been comping since mid Novemeber last year, and have won 5 items up to a value of £100 during 2012! Fingers crossed 2013 will bring just as much luck!

This is my haul of goodies so far:

 

 Knog Bike lock and light - £30

 His and Hers VIP Playboy Perfume - £20

 The Perfume Shop Gift Card - £50

Pringles Speaker - £0 - Promotional Item

Flora Cookbook - £0 - Promotional Item

Now with plenty of time on my hands I wanted to get out a bit more and explore the beautiful countryside that I have right on my doorstep.

What better way to do this than get out on my bike? Its been tucked in the shed rather unloved since I bought it last year, so I delved into a few maps and researched some excellent bike routes. One of these included dropping down into the park just behind my road, then heading through the beautiful wooded countryside, past center parcs, through Longleat and up to the Bath Arms to say hello to my boyfriend and grab a quick soda water and lime.

After distracting my boyfriend from work I would be back on my bike, through the village of Horningsham and down to shear water lake. Surrounded by gorgeous woodland it would be a perfect spot to stop for a picnic and look out for exciting wildlife. After relaxing by the lake I would hop back on the bike, through Crockerton, where if I didnt enjoy my picnic I could stop in a local pub for lunch, and back on the same route home.

I eagerly put on my cycling gear and rush outside to explore my newly planned route, only to walk outside into cold, drizzly rain. Maybe my new cycle route will have to wait until a nicer day. I decide to get out on my bike anyway and explore the first part of my route, round into the park and cut back up through Warminster.

As I cycle down the muddy, sodden trail something suddenly catches my eye. This area is a nature reserve. I explore a little further, Smallbrook meadows its called, and on first glimpse it looks like a connection of streams and ponds. As the rain gets heavier I decide to head on home.

At home I decide to research this newly found gem, right on my doorstep. It turns out Smallbrook meadows is an area of 6 small meadows and is a great spot for wildlife due to its wetlands. It also incorporates a small area of woodland. Its a small piece of beauty so close to home, how did I not know this existed?

After a bit more research my mouth suddenly drops to the floor when I discover this article. Otters?! Does that really say otters? Its listed as one of the greatest places to see otters! I can hardly believe my eyes! You may remember my post a wild to do list and that included search for wild otters. Now this seems within my grasp. I know where I'll be spending all my spare time! Fingers crossed for some otter sightings in the future!

Photo by: mape_s

Jealous?! Me?!! Never!!

Well, maybe just a little, but who wouldn't flush green with envy when you hear the incredible journey my sister has gone on.

She shares the same passion for wildlife as me and followed in her big sisters footsteps by studying zoology at university. Whilst at uni she worked through the blood sweat and tears and gained some fantastic experiences. She whizzed of to Africa and spent a month at Harnas working with cheetahs, lions and more. She then went off to America, where she worked with rescued cats at Big Cat Rescue. But most recently, and definitely the most enviable, she spent 3 months in Africa at Motswari.

The sightings she got were simply mouthwatering, leopards (b****!!), african wild dogs, hyenas and much much more. I am so jealous, and very very proud! Although I had to giggle when she told me of her only sighting of a cheetah, her favourite animal, she was extremely hung over and can't even remember! Hahahaha..ahem... so sorry for you!

Heres just a few of her gorgeous snaps she took while out there.

You can read more about Jades journey over on her blog.

Now she has returned from Africa, she's working three jobs, in hope that she can save up to go back... for good. She hopes to go on a Field Guiding course to become a safari ranger... so she'll be seeing these amazing creatures everyday. Now those eyes are really glowing green!

But before she whisks off to live her dream she wants to do one amazing act for a charity in the UK. She will be running 26 miles in the Brighton marathon, raising funds for ZSL London Zoo. Please help her out by donating to just giving page here.

Good luck my little sis!

Massive changes to my blog! It is no longer known as My Animal Journey, but simply become Karra Rothery. Whilst my passion and priorities will still be with nature and wildlife, it now opens up much more options, whether I want to discuss that slightly over ambitous recipe I attempted, an incredible holiday filled with experiences I just can't keep to myself or just a place to delve into current news stories and give my own opinions on them.

Along with the re-name I have given it a refreshing new look, a clean, simple design adapted from here to make it much easier to navigate.

I'm also back online, and have a permanent internet connection so should hopefully be updating much more frequently, I welcome your thoughts, opinions and discussions!

Sadly another season at the Safari on the Lion Reserve has come to an end. Its been a great year, Ive really excelled and learnt so much. Ive assisted the vet, been given responsibility of my own truck, been 'spare', aiding with close up and lunches, was trained to take guests on VIP big cat tours and became a fully qualified first aider.

Ive gained excellent experiences, seen births and deaths and got so close to these animals you can almost hear their hearbeat. Its a sad goodbye, but its given me skills that will be excellent for the future, so watch this space, who knows what lies in the next chapter.