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

The unfinished projects

It seems to be a habit of mine that I don't always develop my ideas. I have thoughts for stories, paintings and blog posts that I let pass by without much thought. Just a fleeting thought caught up in a strand on other ideas. This needs to stop as who knows where it will take me.

This is why I have began to get into the habit of noting down my ideas. Even if I look back and alter the initial idea slightly, at least I haven't forgot it. It still exists and could lead to something big such as a sense of achievement.

Bursts of creativity

We all have those moments where inspiration takes us. We have an idea for a book, video, present, day trip, anything really. We feel motivated to take note of that idea and see it through. These moments can come from anywhere at anytime and have the potential to turn into something great.

The important thing is to make the most of that motivation as it will inevitably run out, leaving you to wait for the next burst of creativity to strike.

Italy Adventures

Recently I was lucky enough to go on holiday with my Dad on a cruise round the coast of Italy. For as long as I can remember Italy has been somewhere I've wanted to travel to. There have been so many places within Italy that I have discovered through research and want to make time to visit. The week long cruise was not enough time to see everything, but it gave me a flavour for Italian life and has made me want to travel back as soon as possible. One day I hope to do a road trip around Italy, I'll save up for that first though. I'll get some friends or family, load up my car E.T. and set off on an adventure.

I could go on a lengthy, in depth, ramble about how much I enjoyed far too brief time in Italy, however I will abbreviate to prevent you from scrolling through pages of text. We joined the ship in Genoa, which involved an incredible view as flew over the Alps. Something that I enjoyed about the cruise is that you'd go to sleep and wake up in a different location. We left Genoa and woke up in Florence and travelled to Naples in the same day. Even on the sea days we found ourselves waking up Dubrovnik (Croatia), and were able to watch out as we travelled into Venice. This swift and easy transition from place to place appealed, however you don't get enough of a chance to really take in all your surroundings as you are at times rushed from place to place to have a opportunity to see everything, as well as trying to keep cool in the August heat.

One of the main subject matter of my photographs was sunsets, as I love the variation in colours and feel that the lighting can transform a landscape. On my travels I am known to collect three things; Postcards, sunset photographs and thimbles (which are being difficult to find in souvenir shops). I also collected as many photographs as I could as I walked round with my camera, trying to capture Italian life. A particular part of Italian culture that Dad and I enjoyed was the food and drink, think we tried most of the flavours of gelato available.

A part of cruising life that I enjoyed was having the opportunity to dress up in the evening. It did not bother me in the slightest wearing heels every night as I didn't feel out of place. It was lovely on our two formal evenings seeing everyone dressed up in their finest, where it is fair to say that some went all out with ball dresses and tailored suits. The night life on the ship was a favourite of my Dad's where we met some amazing people and sampled most of the cocktails and shots on offer, which led to my Dad's ritual karaoke session that he can never live down thanks to the evidence on my phone.

It is fair to say that I would recommend a trip to Italy if you ever get the chance. You may not have time to se everything, but even the smallest taste of the culture will make you want to return for more.