Oh beautiful St. Ives

St. Ives is a place I visited back in June and has since left me with the constant longing of wanting to go back. It is a truly picturesque place which is an ideal setting for artists. The entire time I felt the urge to grab some paints and just sit looking out to sea and attempt to capture the setting as best as I can. I don't think I've ever connected with a place so deeply. It's difficult to explain but I just completely fell in love. 
Maybe it was a combination of the place I'm in right now in my life, or the company I was with or even just the place itself. St. Ives is a place I know already I will be drawn back to, as it seems to have captured something in me I can't seem to forget. It's captured something in me like it seems to have done within anyone who is lucky enough to visit this beautiful little part of the world. One day I will return eagerly clutching a bag full of art supplies, and I shall not leave until I have spent all my money on prints/postcards of local artists amazing works and sampled a sausage roll and pasty from every pastry shop. 
Until that day arrives I shall leave you with some photos which should capture why I love St. Ives so much.

Overpacking

I don't know what it is but I am terrible at overpacking. I always try to pack for every eventuality as you can't always predict the weather or the outcome of the trip. It doesn't matter how well I think I've packed, there may be times when that one essential item is left behind. In the rush of packing I usually forget something - Just have to hope it's nothing too important as you can pick up replacement bits from the shops.
Making sure you've got everything you need is all well and good until it comes to carrying the case and realising you probably didn't need all these items after all. After this the day is filled with finding the nearest lift or escalator, and using arm muscles you didn't realise you had.

Five new places challenge

This year I set myself the challenge of travelling to five new places either in or outside the UK. I wanted to do this as a way of trying to explore new places and making the most of my free time away from my studies. I love making bucket lists and my travelling one seems to be never ending, therefore this seemed to be a good way to tick pff some of the places on my list.

1. Bristol
I knew I was going to be visiting Bristol sometime this year after being invited by my boyfriend to visit his family and hometown. My first visit was back in April which I blogged about here.

2. Exeter
My boyfriend is a bit of a foodie so we took a day trip one Saturday to the Exeter food festival, which was a great experience. I didn't blog about it as we didn't get to see much of the city itself outside of the food festival, except for a brief sitdown by the Cathedral and 15 minute wander round the museum before it shut. As Exeter isn't far from uni I'm sure we'll be making another day trip there at some point.

3. Dublin
What a trip. I think this trip meant so much to me as it was the first time I went on a plane and travelled outside the UK without the aid of a responsible adult, (well my friend is responsible of course but you know what I mean). My friend and I met up in Bristol and travelled over from there. It was mainly a sightseeing and walking kind of trip, and was a break I think we both needed. You can read about our trip here.

4. St. Ives
Where do I even begin describing St. Ives?! It is such an incredible place that my attempts of describing it won't do it enough justice. Since publishing this post I have blogged about my trip to St. Ives which you are welcome to read here.

5. Mediterranean Cruise
In recent years my Dad and I have started these 'Dad and Daughter holidays' where we take a week out each year and go travelling somewhere together. Last year it took me on my first cruise round the Mediterranean and this year we signed up for the next leg of the cruise. You can read about last year's antics here.

Wandering around Dublin

To celebrate the end of exams and deadlines, a friend and I decided to meet up for a trip to Dublin to kick off the summer holiday. For me it was a big deal as it was my first trip away without the planning or supervision of adults; school trips and family holidays. It's fair to say that the trip had an eventful start involving and airport repack at the airport. Just goes to prove that two girls can live out of a back pack and small suitcase for a four day holiday. It was the start of many hilarious moments of the trip, from accidentally walking in one someone's panorama photo to dropping ice cubes into a woman's bag.

Our trip to Dublin can be described as a sightseeing holiday filled with walking and museums. Not the usual student summer holiday you'd expect with late nights and plenty of drinking - though our trip had to include a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. Just by walking around the city we were able to stumble across small cafes, shops and museums which helped us to get a general feel for the city. By walking we were able to save money on buses and time we'd spend keeping track of bus timetables, though this method of sightseeing inevitably leads to an early night in. On my next trip to Dublin I want to experience more of the nightlife, particularly since hearing about the well known Temple Bar which is a must see for tourists.

If you want to make the most of your trip on a limited budget it's well worth taking our approach of researching places that are free to visit as a way of saving money from bigger expenditures such as travel and accommodation. My friend suggested hosteling which is something I had not previously thought about. After my experiences of hosteling in Berlin and Dublin I can say it is worth doing as it provides you with the opportunity to meet people on their own travels and proves a moe relaxed atmosphere as you can cook and make yourself a drink in a communal kitchen and have multiple lounge areas. However with regard to sharing a room with other people my friend and I agreed we may not do it again. We didn't have a problem with the people we shared with, but felt we felt we couldn't entirely relax in the room as you didn't have total privacy. That's more for a long stay trip, but if it was an overnight stay I'd room share again.

Some of the daftest stories are the most memorable

We all have those stories that stick with us fora number of reasons. I would like to take a moment to appreciate the moments that aren't meant to be a big deal but are the ones that stick with you. The moments you think about and just smile at. It can be anything from ongoing inside jokes, to a classic moment that is often retold at meetups, or even a moment you keep to yourself.  These are the stories you look back on, the 'remember the time....' moments. The ones that will stay with you for years to come. I've found that a lot of these moments have occurred during my time at uni, with friends both at university and from back at home. Moments like this may seem daft at the time but looking back they're the ones that go down in history for you to remember from time to time.

For me I'm not ashamed to admit that when I think about these kind of moments I immediately think about nearly crying with happiness over a toothbrush, being surprised at the train station with Kit Kat chocolate bars and learning not to drink Jaeger bombs ever again after experiencing my first and only hangover (to date!).

Stepping out of your comfort zone

Sometimes we all like to stay within our comfort bubble surrounded by our familiar settings and regular routines. It's not always easy to step outside of that space and make room for change, however long that may be for. Although there are times when these changes may be necessary in order to progress and make new experiences to look back on. The thought of leaving your comfort zone canbe worrying but trust me, its completely worth it in the end.

Meeting the parents and exploring Bristol

This year I have set myself a challenge to travel to five new places I haven't been to before. This could be either inside or outside of the U.K. The first destination ticked off my list is Bristol where I travelled to after my stop in London on my return to uni. Before going I had heard so many good things about Bristol, therefore I'm pleased to say that I was not disappointed. Bristol will hold a special place in my heart for many private reasons which I will not go into detail about on here. All I will say is that I travelled to Bristol after being invited by my boyfriend and was able to be shown around a city that is greatly loved by the man I love, (soppy I know but I'm happy so roll with me here). Staying with my boyfriend also meant staying in his family home and importantly meeting his parents. I remember being worried about it before the trip as I'd never done 'meet the boyfriend's parents' before, and didn't want to say or do anything daft and generally make a fool out of myself. Thankfully I had nothing to worry about as they were all lovely and welcoming.

There were plenty of museums and shops for me to explore so I was happily left to my own devices to wander around the city for a bit, coming across various food and craft market stalls. My museum stop mainly consisted of me buying more art books, after telling myself not to due to lack of suitcase space,(but somehow it all still fit!), and snapchatting various puns and images I knew friends would find amusing. Though I will admit there were a few cake stops en route.... Mainly I just enjoyed being able to take in the sights of a new city, with my own personal tour guide. A sight that is a must when visiting Bristol has to be walking across the Clifton Suspension Bridge at night, overlooking the city. I can't explain how much I love this view. Hopefully next time I'll walk up quick enough to watch the sunset.

Planning before it's time

I'm guilty of rushing into making plans for things that I shouldn't be prioritising at the moment. Obviously I tend to keep on top of my plans, but craft projects and planning trips abroad have begun to take priority over my work. I'm still committed to my studies but have found the work a bit overwhelming at the moment, combined with some recently sad news. It's always good to take work breaks, but when does work become life planning breaks?

Musical and Arty London

There's always something to see and do in London. Frequently there are new shows and exhibitions to view, keeping people at the centre of an ever growing art culture. In the last week I was lucky enough to view two big shows and exhibitions that are open for a limited amount of time. I have attached links to each website on the images.

Painting the Modern Garden - The Royal Academy

Impressionism has always been an art  have been interested in with the bold use of colour an technique that drastically changed the art scene. This exhibition provides an incredible range of works that has proven to be a hugely popular spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. For me the highlight of the show was the collection of Monet's water lilies featured in the showcase, especially with the reunited finale canvases that draw together three canvases to form the iconic scene of Monet's oriental inspired water garden.

Vogue 100: A Century of Style - National Portrait Gallery

This exhibition was a true visual spectacle. The exhibition contained some of the most striking images the last century has seen, beginning with the 1920s and progressing towards the 00s, with today's generation of style being displayed on a video installation at the exhibition entrance. The iconic photographs of well known faces stem across the generations, capturing the hyper glamourised fashion industry with its bold and sometimes questionable outfit choices, to the more modest images that capture their models in a more natural light, with a sense of ease as they've been caught off guard. The images that I personally found the most memorable were those of comedy legends Charlie Chaplin and Morecombe and Wise, and most prominently Naomi Campbell's cover which was used in the advertising campaign for the exhibition. I cannot truly describe it but the photograph evoked a feeling of freedom as she appears to be finding joy in the moment that must have been felt like her big break, opening her to a world of endless possibilities. I guess I related to the youthful outlook of life deeming the world to be your oyster. I would highly recommend this exhibition as it is accessible to most audiences. Even my Dad, who is not an avid art goer, enjoyed being dragged around this exhibition.

Funny Girl - Savoy Theatre

This hit show may be well known for the 1968 film featuring Barbara Streisand which is seen by many to be a tough act to follow. I am yet to see the film but was nonetheless blown away by the show, particularly by lead actress Sheridan Smith who captured the humour element of the show perfectly through her physical comedy, as well as having a powerful voice to match. I must say a beautiful moment to end the show on was Sheridan's standing ovation from the entire audience, where her tears of joy showed her true surprise and gratitude. The colourful set and well chosen cast prove an uplifting and fun atmosphere that fully immerses you into the stage world and would be a night out that you would not want to miss.

Sunset Boulevard - English National Opera

The hype around this Andrew Lloyd-Webber production was seen to be actress Glenn Close's reprisal of her role as Norma Desmond, a silent-screen film star who seeks a return to Hollywood from her secluded yet still luxurious lifestyle. Glenn Close gave a fantastic performance but I found the true attraction of the show laid within the staging and music. The orchestra were centrally placed on the stage with steel framework stairs scattered around the stage to provide height and separate spaces for the narrative. Another staging element that captured the essence of the period the show is set through the black and white images projected on to the stage from old film reels of the 1920s which plays during the orchestral musical interludes of both acts.

Grey sky kind of day

Sometimes admist the blue sky a grey cloud will drift in, trying to block the sun. You have to take these days as they come and know that you'll see the sun again, whenever that may be. Though if you're lucky enough to have people in your life that know how to make you smile, the clouds will begin to break and you'll be on your way to that blue sky with the warmth and joy of the sun.

We all have stories - My Great Nanny Daisy

Today I wanted to devote time to the life story of a truly beautiful woman who most people never had the pleasure of meeting; my Great Nanny Daisy.

Where to begin? Whatever I say I feel will not truly justify how wonderful Nanny Daisy really was, but I will try.  Nanny Daisy had a sense of fun and happiness in her life which many people picked up. Her joyful singing, where moments of silence in conversation were lifted by a hymn or tune. Nanny Daisy achieved a lot across her lifetime reaching 101 years of age, by retaining her independence for most of her life. There was a sense of elegance about Nanny as she had a timeless sense of style and made an effort to dress up for occasions as well as everyday life. Like any Mother would, she did all that she could raise her children, having her first child the year the Second World War started.

Daisy Bunn 1914 - 2016



Nanny Daisy always enjoyed laughing and the family knew she had a good sense of humour. She enjoyed watching British comedy classics, I have memories of putting on some of the films from my 'Carry On' collection with Nanny happily laughing at the opening credits to Carry On Behind. One of her favourites were the great comedy duo Morecombe and Wise, so rather fittingly the family chose their song to say goodbye to Nanny today, as she brought sunshine and laughter with her good natured spirit and will dearly be remembered for it.

London Baby

Last week I went on an industry study trip to London for my university course. It's fair to say that this trip made me realise that I am on the right course. The walking tours around London and art journal studies provided a great insight into museology, where I was able to reflect on the art industry within the public and private commercial sectors. I enjoyed being able to visit new sights and areas within a city I love and have been lucky enough to visit often. This ranged from the auction houses and galleries, to the street art that adorn the side of buildings.

I guess this trip made me want to aspire more to my dream of living in the 'London lifestyle'. The lifestyle that has been portrayed on TV with people living in the gorgeous apartments with their dream jobs, admist the hustle and bustle of a busy city, while managing to maintain a thriving social life. This is the lifestyle I would like to see myself living in one day and this trip made living the 'London lifestyle' seem possible.

Letting someone into your world

You spend your whole life developing and forming who you are as an individual. You become used to thinking about where you are going and what you're doing, without having to majorly factor in the plans of others. But one day you'll be walking around in your world and bump into someone who can make you see the world around you differently. You're no longer just concerned about your own plans and ambitions as you make plans around both of your schedules, as well as you being there and feeling their highs and lows as much as your own.

There will come a time when you decide that you are ready to let someone else into your world. This can be in the form of a partner or best friend, or if you're lucky that person may even be both those things. You let them see you when you're at your worst as well as you're best, and see you at times you may not usually want to be seen, like when you're snotty and full of cold, or stressing over an up coming work deadline or even just a truly emotional time where you just want someone to cry to and hug. It's strange how quickly they can settle into your world and you feel as though you can't remember a time recently when they weren't a part of it. You keep wanting to learn more about them and see them as often as possible. You want to grow with them by your side.

All you hope for is that they think of you as much as you think about them, making space for you to join their world and plan on keeping you along for the journey that is their own life.

A new way of life

University changed my life more than I thought I would. I've now fallen into a routine here but thinking back to when I first started university things were so different from back home. I had no choice to be independent as I couldn't rush home if I panicked, or else I faced a seven and a half hour commute to university. I think this is the kick up the arse I needed. As much as I love my home town it's a great feeling to know that I'm trying to be my own person and make decisions for myself. I was surprised by how quickly I adjusted to university life when it came to washing and cooking for myself. Don't get me wrong though, at times it's still daunting, and as much as I love university life you can't beat home cooked food, my cooking is slightly hit and miss.

I was very lucky with the group of people I have met at university, particularly with my flat mates. We are a close group and have sorted our accommodation to live together for our second year. We enjoy going out as a flat, with the group introducing me to nights out for the first, being one of the younger ones in my year I didn't experience my home town's nightlife.  There are many funny moments from our nights out and Halloween even introduced me to my boyfriend. I wasn't looking for a relationship at university but its amazing where life can take you. As well as my flat home life, I find my course lectures interesting and informative, although there is too much reading to be done in a short deadline time. Despite that I get on well with the people on my course and don't regret my choice of course or university.
It's great to see where life takes you and I'm looking forward to seeing where it will lead me next.

Lost in your own thoughts

Do you ever have those moments where you just space out? You lose track of where you physically are and become transported into a world inside your head. You let your imagination run so wild that you actually begin to see the world as your vision of the physical world begins to blur. The possibilities of where you could be are endless with no limitations of travel and circumstances that prevent you from doing so in the physical world. You lose all concept of time as you become immersed into a world on your own creation...

I don't know where I was going with this thought process, I zoned out for a second.

'Wear that damn skirt and dark lipstick!'

These are the words I said to myself as I stared at the mirror. When I go shopping I have a habit of occasionally buying something I would love to wear but hardly ever have the courage to. This year I decided that I wouldn't buy any more new clothes for a while, and would instead try to wear the clothes I haven't dared to go out in more often. It seemed like a good idea at the time but when I faced it in front of the mirror I wasn't so sure. What would people say? Was it a step too far? Should I just not bother and change?

However I decided to put on my Dr. Martens and take a selfie to capture the moment. Sometimes you've just got to go for it and try something new, while keeping the comfort zone close by (the Dr. Martens in my case).

2015 in pictures

Earlier this year I made a post reviewing what I'd done in 2014, which I thought could become a tradition at the start of each year. 2015 had its highs and lows, but I'm happy to say it ended on a high with my move to University in September. Some moments I want to keep private so they have not been included, but it does not make them any less special.

Towards the start of the year I tried a new look of cutting my hair short and got a cartilage ear piercing which is something I've wanted for years. They're small changes but I'm proud of them. The E.T. photo represents me buying my first car when I was learning to drive, with the gift from my Nanny representing the name of my car. The last two photos represent finishing my A-Levels and leaving Sixth Form. I really enjoyed my time there and don't regret staying at my High School to study my A-Levels. This time brought an end to the late night painting and captured a time where I was truly happy with some great friends.

These series of photos capture key parts of my Summer holiday where bigger changes started to kick in. I attended my first festival where I met my favourite comedian. The following week I passed my driving test which enabled me to drive round in my car E.T. and have road trips with friends and family. In August Dad and I decided to have a Father and Daughter holiday to Italy, where we went on a week long cruise to visit some of Italy's most well known locations, as well as a stop off in Dubrovnik, also known as Kingslanding in Game of Thrones. After results day and the confirmation of my University place, there was a family gathering organised to see me off to university before Mum and I packed up the car to set off on our ten hour road trip.

My final Chapter of 2015 took me to Plymouth where I left home and moved to University. The costal scenery was jut what I needed, as well as being lucky enough to have been placed with such amazing flat mates. My first night out and Halloween are nights that really come to mind when thinking of how to summarise the fun of my university experience, (though I can't remember the entire evenings....). 

I am very grateful to everyone who made 2015 so great, here's hoping that 2016 will be a good year filled with just as many fond memories.

Wishing you all the best for 2016 x