It was the day before New Year's Eve: Reflections on 2014

There are so many words I could use to describe 2014: challenging, emotional, grounding, full of sorrow but also happiness. Long story short, 2014 has been pretty life changing. There are probably many more I could pull out of the bag but both my limited vocabulary and time prevent me from spending too much further thought on this. I have lost someone but have been fortunate enough to be able to learn the true extent of friendship and gain a certain someone along the way.

All I care about is like 3 People: Friendship Choices

I haven’t blogged in a while because life has been getting in the way. But today has been one of those days where one thing has led to another and the thoughts that have been bubbling away in my brain are burning on my finger tips to be put onto (digital) paper.

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How do you write a letter when there is no way to accurately describe your thoughts and feelings? When every word, every sentence does not feel right, feels inappropriate or just not good enough?

New Year’s resolutions or learning to like myself a bit more

“No one could ever hate me as much as I hate myself, okay? So any mean thing someone's going to think of saying about me, I've already said to me, about me, probably in the last half hour.”

- Hannah, Girls

Its 10 days into 2014 and I am now back in London and back to reality after a relaxing 2 weeks at home. 2 weeks of no writing, hardly any emails and nothing more than time with my dog (not that she appreciated it), my family (they were glad to ship me back to London by the end) and my friends (sadly missed). 

About facing your past and letting go

We all hold onto things in our past. Places, things, people. Sometimes it is because we are nostalgic, sometimes it is because they remind us of happier times, and sometimes it is because there is something that is holding us back. Stopping us from letting go.

Overcoming my writer’s block: Or why it is a good idea to let people surprise you

I am sat at my big worktable in a place I like to call my little paradise: our house in the south of France. It’s been 4 days since I stepped of the plane from London and into the peace and serenity of a place I call home. Bikini top and shorts, skin glistening with sunscreen; it is 28 degrees and slightly cloudy today. Perfect weather for writing. Except that, as might have been obvious by the lack of posts, I have suffered from the worst writer’s block. Yes there have been times when I have felt uninspired but never has the draught lasted aslong as this.

Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch-A Me...On Robots and interactive lingerie

“And that's just one small fraction of the main attraction;You need a friendly hand and I need action...” –Rocky Horror Picture Show

Does this make my bum look big? On how we see ourselves & self-esteem

"In the words of Oscar Wilde 'Be yourself; everyone else is taken'." - Carol Lake*

Every morning on my way into work I walk past a newspaper and magazine stand. The last time I actually bothered to take a look at any of the magazines on their shelves I, unsurprisingly, found most magazines trying to entice me to buy them by promising me a quick and easy way to the perfect body. Taking their offer seriously I should have the perfectly tall, lean, muscular body structure with long legs, straight, white teeth, long fingers (but not toes) and radiant skin that I have always dreamed of.

Where The Happiness Begins or The True Friendship

"You should see my favourite people;

You catch a glimpse of gold through their skins.

I walk on air whenever I'm with them; They're where the happiness begins.

And I'm alright on my own, but with them I'm much better.

They're like diamonds and diamonds are forever." - BOY, Army

There a people in everyone's life who make it better; who make you feel safe and warm. All they have to do is turn up, be there and suddenly the world is ok. Plain and simple. 

Playing By The Rules: The Game of Life and Love

I love games. Big fan. Cannot begin to describe how much I love them. Board games that is. Monopoly, Yahtzee, Poker, Game of Life, you name it. I may not be good at them, I may never win, but I will still play. Every time.

Its easy to enjoy a game with friends because in the end its not about winning or losing. It is about spending time with people you love, about having a good time, sharing a laugh. Making memories in the process. Some of my fondest childhood and teenage years memories involve board games. The hours mum, my brother and I spending hours playing card and Yahtzee. A. teaching me poker. My Tassie friends and I playing Monopoly for 7 hours straight.  

On Hobson's Choice* Or Why Choices Are Hard to Make

Jean-Paul Satre famously once said: “We are our choices.” We all make them. Every day. Some are easy; some are hard. But without making choices we wouldn’t be able to live our lives. Should I wear the black dress or the blue one? The leopard print flats or red heels? Cereal or toast? Herbal or black tea? Wine or Cider? Chocolate or Crisps? All those are questions you can probably answer without giving them much thought. Sure, they may be answered differently depending on the day, the time, the mood you are in.

But what about those difficult decisions? Those that require thought and appear, not matter how we twist and turn things, to never quite lead to what we want? 

Joining Bloglovin' Or Embracing My Inner Hipster

Because it seems like the right thing to do, a way to feel part of the gang, I am officially joining Bloglovin'!

I am embracing my inner hipster. Istagram and my parents will be so proud. Maybe this will one day lead me to actually wear my glasses when I need them (writing & blogging among other things), get me to buy vintage clothing and party in Shoredich (one of the few places in London to make me feel utterly, utterly uncool!).

On telling the truth

More often than not the truth hurts. Especially if it doesn’t have the outcome we were hoping for. But hurt from truth means moving forward. It means leaving behind what has been and finding something new. Something to fill the gap.