SPRING

 It always captivates me how the seasons manifest themselves physically. After months of dark, cold, winter mornings, you step outside and the sun is warm. Warm enough to soothe your skin, bright enough to adjust your gaze. Bristol stops being 50 shades of grey and the sandstone starts to reflect the colour of the sky. Blossom surprises at street corners and daffodils sneak out of the ground. All of a sudden, everything's looking up again. The cynicism, loneliness and isolation of winter, that you didn't realise you were carrying around inside, starts to dissolve and you can't help but exclaim 'it's March! It's March!' to all your friends. 

Hastings

There are a lot of misconceptions about Hastings, namely that it's run-down and boring - 'a dirty old town'. I used to be of that opinion until I walked down George Street recently. What a transformation! A whole cobbled, winding snake peppered with little boutiques, tea-rooms, art-shops and pubs. We went for a wonderful lunch at Hunushka's Coffee House and then wandered on to the beach to brave the winds. Hastings, you did good.

The Downs

It's impossible to feel claustrophobic on the Downs. You can get lost by simply starring too hard at the horizon. The expanse is constantly changing colour with the light and the seasons; I have no favourite. It even has it's own little community: runners wearing the grass to mud with their head-torches and various assorts of lycra, mums and dads with dogs and prams watching Saturday football matches, commuters framing the rosy light from the sunrise in their long lines of cars, students hurrying with heavy backpacks and students lolling home, couples falling in and out of love, friends on weekend walks and the lone rangers stomping out their inner monologues. Every morning I feel part of it's routine as I scurry across the frosty fields to school and every morning it lifts my spirits and reminds me of bigger pictures. Even on the weekends I cannot resist its charm as it consolidates new friendships and helps to settle a frantic mind. Last week I walked into the settling dusk and began to acknowledge how important this space has been since moving back here. It is part of the Bristol continuum and yet it is impossible not to experience its beauty anew again and again. 

Berlin: The Apartment

At the start of August I hopped spontaneously onto a plane for quick mini-break to Berlin. One of the reasons was to visit my friends Babsi and Lotte, two of the 'cheese-fondue girls' who had both returned to the city for the Summer. The other reason was to see Babsi's new Kreuzberg apartment, which was everything a dreamy Berliner could wish for. It became the centrepiece of the trip. The morning coffees, the midday peace in the rocking chair by the window, the afternoon pause to read Die Zeit, the evening dinner parties with homemade Hugos, the nighttime scampering across the wooden floorboards and the bathroom that plays Kulturradio as soon as you flick the light switch, felt like a secret world hidden amongst the leaves of the courtyard. It's rare that you find such peace in the middle of the city. I like homes that feel like art without being fragile. I want to create a space like that for myself and for all those whose lives swirl around me. 

London Perspectives

“Go where we may, rest where we will,

Eternal London haunts us still.” 

― Thomas Moore

When I look at photographs of London on pinterest they all seem rather shiny and there never seems to be anyone out and about. I took these on a quick stop-over during the Easter holidays and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. They reflect what I see. My London is busy and hectic, grainy and dirty. I love that one quick turn into a side-street can shift the pace from chaotic-commuter to bumbling-bruncher. It has the reputation of being unfriendly, yet London contains some of my favourite strangers; from the Cafe Nero barista at Waterloo station, to moleskine man in Foyles on the Southbank, to the ticket lady at Charing Cross, to the eccentric playwright in the Royal Court Bookshop and the barista on Beakstr. whose first-day-on-the-job enthusiasm made the sun shine brighter and the coffee taste sweeter. The city has always been a constant in my life and though I have never called it my home, I have lived many a significant moment within it's geography. Not all these moments have been positive; some of the darkest seasons in my life have been very much synchronised with the South West train service up to Waterloo. But it has also spurred most of my childhood dreams from prima ballerina, to painter, to writer and now actress; all of which have been explored among the plethora of London theatres, galleries and bookshops. More recently the city has become a place to catch-up with special friends, the ones that help you put the world right, whose sofa-bed soaks up the tears of lonely lostness and dinner time conversation reminds you that a belly-laugh is one of your five a day. Whatever the next few months and years hold for me, I know that London will be a part of it. I may never call it home, but it will always be a city of unrelenting significance. 

A Morning in Prenzlauerberg

It's hard to imagine what Berlin is going to be like in the Spring when it's 3am and you're stood on Bakerstreet in London waiting for the Easybus and talking to very friendly Swedish girls. It always amazes me how one little plane journey can transform your surroundings so dramatically. I landed in a warm, sunny Berlin and headed straight for my favourite coffee place to catch my breath and ground myself in the fact that I was back in the city that I love.  I mean, I was technically in town for research, but everyone needs to have a break from the humdrum of the quotidian to drink good coffee in the sunshine and walk slow around Prenzlauerberg with their new camera snap snap snapping away.  People often ask me where the best places are to go in Berlin, because most people end up stuck in the centre and feel like they're missing the point. The truth is, there are so many places and everyone has their little preferences, but if you want to feel part of the buzz then take the U2 to Elberswalderstrasse or U8 to Moritzplatz and discover where your own favourite hangouts. If that's too scary then here's a list of my favourite places

When the View's THIS GOOD...

you cannot help but fall in love with the city all over again; falling back into step with it's rhythm, resonating with the beat. Bristol you've got my heart. 

Yogi-Tea Wisdom

It's the first step towards health. Any tips on how this works practically would be much appreciated. For now my buzz words are tea, rest, people who love you, God.

Winter Morning

Mornings with skies like this are very necessary, especially at the end of term. Daylight is so sparse that the days don't seem to exist, deadlines are continuous and pressing, thoughts about the future are unavoidable, big life decisions wait for no one and your social life starts to explode with Christmas drinks and activities, which you will happily sacrifice sleep for. Everyone wants to go home and yet there is still time to wish away. Sometimes I stop living and start existing; then I wake up to this blue, still winter morning and my priorities are readjusted. There is so much I could wish away and yet there is so much I could enjoy. It's not so much holding out until the Christmas Holidays but embracing everything that the days leading up to it can offer. 

On a completely different note, this is my first bloggable photograph from my new camera. It's all a bit exciting. 

My Favourite Blogs part 1

I've been meaning to do one of these posts for ages, but I always keep getting side-tracked. I read a lot of great, inspiring blogs with various different themes, tastes and contents. I like the variety, because it keeps my writing fresh and it reminds me that personal blogging is all about creating your own voice and shaping out a little space of the internet all of your own. It's fair to say that most of the blogs in this post are pretty girly, but don't let that put you off. They talk about fashion, books, baking, DIY, photography, adventures and their daily lives with vibrancy and candour - sometimes I feel like we're sitting down together in a cosy cafe sharing our thoughts. That's one of things I really love about blogging. It creates such a fabulous community! So, without further ado, some girly, fun-filled, lifestyle blogs for you.

Selective Potential

This was one of the first blogs I started reading way back in 2009. It's written by the indefatigable Tieka who lives in Michigan, rides around on a mint-coloured scooter and posts very simple and achievable outfit ideas. Her Autumn and Spring posts are particularly gorgeous. She loves her clothes to blend in with her surroundings and always attaches little stories to her outfit posts. Her giveaways are also really fun and I won a modcloth voucher in December just by commenting on a post. I also really admire her honesty. She has found a perfect balance between being a closed book and not bearing all. I think that's why her blog is so successful, because it's absolutely one hundred percent personal to her. That's what makes things sustainable.

C'est La Belle Vie
I stumbled across Charity's little space via Bloglovin about a year and a half ago. She's whimsy, thoughtful, fun, posts great recipes, runs a vintage etsy-shop (from which I just purchased a beautiful jumpsuit),writes wonderful articles, takes gorgeous photographs and does all this whilst pursuing an internship. She's pretty impressive! What I love about Charity's blog is how accessible it is. Every post is relatable and honest, whilst still being simple and beautifully presented. I particularly love how she picks up on the sweet little moments in our lives that can sometimes bring us the greatest joy. Grab a cup of coffee and go check her out.

The Deer Circus
This blog is one of my go-tos every single day. Bridget manages to capture so many ordinary things and make them seem extraordinary. Her photographs, words, 30 second poems, Lovegrams to her husband, silly stories, serious tales and crazy vintage finds are both uplifting and thought provoking. She posts VERY regularly- sometimes twice a day- which means there is always something new to read and think about. The photography is particularly beautiful (it should come as no surprise that she is a photographer by trade!) and I love her little wanders around Denver. Her blog has been inspiring me a lot lately whether that's to write a bunch of 30 second poems, take a walk, or pick up my film camera. Whatever it is, I have felt enriched as a result. So definitely head over there!

I'll be back with more favourite blogs next week!

Florence On Film part 1

I just got my film photographs back from Boots and I'm so, so happy with them. They have captured my month in Florence so accurately and honestly. I love all the colours, the different light, the places. AAAHHH gorgeous. I just HAD to share them with you.

1/ climbing the bell-tower

2/ Piazza Michaelangelo. The views were STUNNING and we saw a couple taking wedding photos (too cute!)

3/ General wanderings: ponte vecchio, wall-art and the uffizi gallery.

Florence is a bit of a photogenic babe. I'll be back with more tomorrow. 

In the meantime please pray that I get a job in Germany soon...it's kinda urgent. 

February in Florence

On Monday evening we hiked up to Palazzo Michaelagelo hoping to catch the sunset. I had already seen one on Valentine's Day and it was pretty spectacular - the sky was full of golds, reds and pinks that shimmered over the rooftops. When we finally reached the top, there was no sunset, which was hardly surprising seeing as there hadn't been much sun. Yet the light was magnificent, soft, dreamy and cold. I'm sure Louis will edit the crap out of these pictures, but I like them raw, I love seeing how the camera caught the atmosphere firmly in its hand. I love that we're dancing and jumping. I can feel the cold and the beauty of the city that was my home for four weeks. I love how the lights twinkle, I love how the sky was a watercolour and the mountains it's subjects. I love how these photos and these moments capture the beauty in the gloomiest month of the year.