Hi! I’m Laura Anne, and this is my little bit of blogosphere known as ‘Learning from Sophie’!

I’m 29 years old (though people rarely believe it!) and I live in Edinburgh, Scotland. I’m proudly both Scottish and British. I am a ‘city blossom’, but I’ve seen few cities as beautiful and intriguing as Edinburgh, with so much rural beauty on our doorstep. As my friend Caroline once said , ‘It’s a good thing the weather’s rubbish or else everyone would move to Scotland’. How very true.

My hometown (from Edinburgh Castle)

Weather forecast for your average Scottish summer.

I have a job that I love, and how I got involved is a lengthy story and a journey I’m really still navigating. I work part-time for a local non-profit organisation that has combined some counselling training I began just before I left Aberdeen, my work experience in youth work and community education and my studies of women’s health. One day I *might* write a book about my experiences. People keep telling me I should write my story. Or turn it into a soap opera.

The other big part of my life is Girlguiding. Having gone through the ranks of Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Young Leader and Ranger, after a 9 year break I returned to guiding in September 2011. I’m now working on doing my Adult Leadership Qualification (ALQ) as an Assistant Leader at a Guide company with 24 girls aged 10-14 years old, and as a Leader of a brand new Senior Section Unit that has 6 girls (…and counting…) aged between 14-18 years old. This means you might find me building campfires, freaking out on ferris wheels or hiding fake eyeballs and frogs in jelly (jell-o to American folks!).

What else do you need to know? My favourite colour is purple. I make yummy treats, but I really suck at making them look all elegant and pretty. You might think because my cake is good I’m a fabulous cook too, but your assumption would be incorrect. I’m godmother to my best friend’s oldest son, who is known online as ‘Elastaboy’ (upgraded from Elastababy and Elastatoddler). I have some great friends and really privileged to be part of their kids’ lives – so you might hear a lot of tales about Elastaboy & Mr Teapot and Miss Sweetroot & the Mini Kahuna at these here blogosphere parts! I’m a huge gymnastics fan and follow the sport all year round. I trained in dance for 8 years. I support several charities. I believe in God, but I’m not particularly religious – I didn’t start believing in God until I was almost 18. I have a bucket list of dreams and ambitions I’d like to achieve some which are a bit silly and nutty! I love meeting new people, showing people around my home city and have had the privilege of meeting a number of bloggers ‘in real life’ doing road trips or while stalking Aussie soap stars. I’m a huge fan of American TV shows – my current favourites are White Collar, NCIS,  The Good Wife, Homeland, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother. I love being at the beach, and with my close friends I’m part of a community called Soul Surfers.

If you’d like to find out more about the work I do, or ask a question about anything on my blog, you can contact me via e-mail.

I occasionally blog at Lassie Fae Leith where you can learn about all things Scottish, plus get my tips on where to drink, eat and experience the best that Edinburgh has to offer.