How to do Spring

Evening all!

So I've been back in London for a week, and the past seven days have been surprisingly hectic. Uni is still ongoing, although with no structure, I'm learning that I need to get things done by myself. I managed to research and write an essay in between starting my new internship, and taking part in some exciting things with the ParliaMentors programme I'm on. 

But, just to fill you in, I had an incredible Easter break, full of the outdoors, the most delightful and beautiful places in Dorset, good friends and good conversations. It was pretty hard to leave. Here are a couple of highlights...

Trudging through the New Forest

Naturey lichen.

On top of the world in Warbarrow Bay

Lyme Regis

Since arriving back in London, I've embarked on one of those overwhelming weeks where I feel more than a little out of my depth, and whilst everyone tells me that's a good thing, it is beyond uncomfortable. In the midst of it all, I've been challenged about trust - the difference between accepting something is true, and actually letting it change you. When you get to trust in God, it means that there is a life of hope, promise and adventure available. I need to get better at not just knowing this, but putting it into practice with all of the things going on in life. Mission for the week ahead I believe.

In an ideal world, this is what we hope to see.

This weekend I had a packed day of dreaming and planning about the student group I help to run. It was a great day of strategising, looking at diagrams and chatting to our team, getting excited about what God might want to in the next six months, as well as years down the line. There's something incredibly exciting about putting these plans together in a building off of Oxford Street on a sunny spring day, the rest of the world passing by as we all sat about thinking about how much we want to see this city made even better than it is. Kinda surreal.

Housemates and cocktails - perfect combination.

  Saturday evening, a friend had organised a private party at The City of London Distillery, an incredible gin bar, tucked down a small lane in one of the oldest parts of London. We arrived slightly late, and by that time the place was heaving with people dressed in snazzy clothes, clutching cocktails and G&Ts. They make their gin on site, and boy was it good. I'd love to pop in there on another evening to see who else was about, but the bar staff were ultra friendly and that's always a plus. 

Gin Distillery

After all of that, I felt it was about time that I had a lie-in and a bit of a rest. This morning I finished the latest Neil Gaimon book I've picked up, and I can thoroughly recommend. Perhaps because it's set in London, I'm a little biased, but the way he blends fiction and reality absolutely blows me away. He writes about a 'London Below', which consists of society's outcasts, every person in the city that drops away, falls beneath the cracks, is ignored by the system. And then he creates an entire universe, showcasing skills and abilities, personalities and adventure. Needless to say I was blown away. 

My afternoon was spent sitting in the sun, with iced coffee before heading to church and then to the pub. It's been the restful day every one should get to have before heading into another manic week. 

What have you been up to?

xo

Home

For the past two years (nearly) I've been living in London. This city has somewhat captured my heart with it's  skyline, markets, coffee shops and people. I have fallen in love. And I don't intend to leave any time soon.

Yet one fraction of my heart remains in the depths of Dorset. I grew up in Bournemouth (okay not really the depths, but you'll see what I mean in a minute) and my summers were spent whiling away the time at the beach, picnicing in the forest, and generally frolicking around the town trying to keep occupied. It was a good life. 

Now for someone that grew up surrounded by fields, ocean and space, the city doesn't always quite hit the spot. Sometimes, the silence and the peace of the countryside is exactly what I need, and after a busy few months, this is definitely the place I am at. Fortunately, my family and a few friends are still about, so I've come home for a couple of weeks during the Easter holidays.

This morning I woke up buzzing. Not just because of my phone alarm, but at the prospect of clean air and a bit of travel. It seemed to take forever to get to Waterloo, and forever and a day to grab coffee at Costa, so I only just managed to make it onto my train. And then I settled down with The Great Gatsby, the second book on a long list of 'non-uni reading'. Which essentially translates to: reading-for-fun-novels. I don't always get a lot of those. Armed with my coffee and music, I napped and read, until the grey of London turned into the grey and green of fields and clouds as I headed further south. 

One of the joys of getting the train for me, is based on the last five minutes of the journey. My great aunt and uncle live in a house not too far from a railway line. As a kid I practically lived at their house, and their garden was my home. My cousins and I spent a lot of time running around playing make-believe, but I was always super excited when a train went by. Don't ask me why. Perhaps it was the prospect of adventure, perhaps it was just the idea of a stream of people smiling as I waved at them. Either way, it was great. 

And now, as I travel home, I'm one of those people on that train. And it always makes me smile as I try and catch a glimpse of their house, and the garden that I used to know so well. 

Coming home is always a strange feeling. The tensions of old and new, familiar and different are ever present. But there is something infinitely comforting about seeing the landscapes that you've known so well, even if it is Castlepoint. I am very much looking forward to two weeks of peace and rest, catching up with old friends and wandering across the beach and fields that I have so, so missed. 

I look forward to keeping you updated on my adventures. 

A Small Sketch

If you took the game device and replaced it with my laptop, you have a perfect little cartoon of me right now. It's not that I'm really an introvert, in fact, too much time by myself sends me a little doolally (yes it's a word!) But sometimes, just on the odd occasion, I need time by myself. Normally with some TV (I've just been catching up with The Good Wife and oh how I want to be Alicia Florrick) or perhaps with a book and a cuppa. 

The past couple of weeks have been full of people, and events, and evenings running around icey London. Don't get me wrong, I love those things, and I love being busy and having things to do. Until it gets to the point where I can't hear my own thoughts and have forgotten how to process what I'm doing. A couple of hours of peace is just what I've needed. 

However, a very favourite friend is on her way over from work. We're going to cook up a storm and catch up on the past three days since we last saw each other. I expect there'll be lots to say. 

I like alone time. But only in very small doses, and interrupted with peopley-friend time too. So perhaps it's time to leave the comfort of my duvet and venture out of my bedroom...

Love xo

January. Ew.

It's getting towards the end of January, and though I've been doing rather a lot of writing, it has unfortunately not been for my blog. Woops. So I'm back. Feeling a little guilty. Please forgive me. 

Christmas and holidays feel like an ancient memory, what with being in the depths of the new year, full of ice and snow and slush, however, they were quite exciting - one of my oldest friends got engaged (yes, I have apparently become that old!!) and I got to spend lots of time running around the countryside with the family. 

My return to London was somewhat hindered by being unbearably ill, and suffering from the flu, which was an unwelcome start to term, but did allow me to watch an unnecessary number of Harry Potter films. I also had a number of evil deadlines that crept out of the woodwork and were a bit of a shock to the system. 

Still, it's been a good couple of weeks, with a couple of nights of dancing, baking, and a visit from friends to see the new Les Mis film, which, might I add, is wonderful. Take tissues. 

Highlights include a night of cocktails and boogying at The Foundation Bar in Covent Garden (a friend has just started organising events, and this was the first, which was huge amounts of fun!) and then an electro-swing night at The Book Club in Shoreditch, which is the home of hipsters and all things fun. I had a cocktail that involved lots of elderflower syrup. Om nom nom. 

Anyhow, here are some photos from the start of the year, and I promise to endeavour to write more often. 

(Last night I went to a writing workshop, and despite my busy schedule, I would love writing to be a bigger part of 2013 than 2012, and blogging seems to be a good way to do that.)

New Years Eve

Bournemouth on New Years Day

Sunset

House friends

Kahaila, a favourite coffee shop on Brick Lane.
Time with two of my best friends.

Electro-swing night at The Book Club

Snowy Street

Brunch at The Breakfast Club

Writing Workshop and Walk Along the Southbank.

Keep warm amigos, love xx

Meltdown

With the sun shining, and my to-do list growing longer than my legs, I think I am feeling a tad overwhelmed by all the things I need to get done.

Oh dear.

I return to London on Sunday, and as the past week has been full of sadness, and organising, the uni situation has somewhat taken a back seat. However, Sunday is arriving rather soon and my lack of sorting is making me panic a tad.

However, after lunch today with a friend that's been living in Kenya for the past year and a bit, and a speedy coffee with one of the besties, I feel a tad more normal. Sort of.

PS - A friend made me LYCHEE RUM.

So, with the rum, a few clothes, the arrival of another close friend in London, and the promise of a busy few weeks, I should probably get off the computer.


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Back at Home

So this weekend I moved out of London to spend my summer back at home in Bournemouth. It hasn't stopped raining since I left. Or arrived, whichever way you want to look at it.

I've got lots of photos to post after having my sister visit, as well as a friend, but for now I shall just say that old friends are sometimes the best, and a coffee with one of those is definitely enough to set your heart at ease.

I'm currently enjoying my favourite song in the world and attempting to write a personal statement. It's not going well, but I'm going to persevere because the programme I'm applying for sounds so amazing. Anyway, tea and late night creativity shall keep me company.

Much love amigos xxx

A Small Excursion

The past days have been a blur of sunshine, markets, chatting, cold beer and goodness. It's been amazing. I think I fall more in love with this city every day. The pavements are hot, the summer dresses are out and in East London the smell of cooking food fills the air. It really is like being on holiday. In fact, I've even got tan lines! 

Yesterday a few of us headed to north London though for a little excursion. A few friends live in a gorgeous house up near Harrow, and though it takes nearly an hour to get there, it's definitely worth the effort. With a huge garden, and a giant house, it's the perfect place to spend time chatting and chilling, enjoying the summer sun. We cooked up a huge salad and whiled away the afternoon with conversation and laughter, and though the sun went in and the rain poured, it was the very best sort of rain; the thick droplets of a thunderstorm. It smelt like summer, with the warm air and the damp grass and I had yet another of those moments of being blissfully aware of how blessed my life is. 

The evening consisted of huge amounts of pizza, making use of  Orange Wednesdays and then we watched Final Destination which I think is quite frankly the most ridiculous film. 

Still, we had fun and finally got to bed in the early hours of the morning. Waking up this morning it was time for a porridge and pyjama party as we blearily said hello and enjoyed breakfast. 

I'm now back East, have found a gorgeous house I think we want to live in next year, and am enjoying a hot cup of tea. It's now nine days until I leave London and am super sad about it. But, until then, my sister is coming to visit! WOOP! and it's the Jubilee weekend. 

Plenty to keep me occupied I'm sure...! 

Lots of love xxx

Foodie Friday

Over the past few months of living in London I've been searching for good coffee shops and cute cafes...the kind of thing you can only really hope to find in the city. If you've not gathered already, I love London, I mean really love it. The buildings, and the busyness, the people with their stern expressions, the tourists with their bandanas (a story for another time) and the amazing events and things that I just get to stumble upon. It's quite exciting, and all in all makes a nice change from my beautiful sleepy seaside home.

A couple of months ago I got taken to a great cafe, not too far from where I live. It's built upon three levels and serves coffee in glasses. It's an absolute winner. I've been back a couple of times since, and as a friend was passing through London on the way to the south, we stopped in this afternoon for a spot of lunch. I always think it's a good sign when the queue spirals out of the shop and half way down the street. No joke, by 1pm today we joined a trail of workers, about 20 people long. 

Fortunately for us most of them were using the Fleet River Bakery as a pit stop, and not as somewhere to sit and munch and chat, which left me and Sam (said friend) a handy table at the back of the cafe for a good catch up. Simple pesto pasta, and a chocolate brownie to die for, as well as some yummy coffee, and it was a fantastic afternoon. I'm a big fan of this place and only wish it wasn't so well-known! I need a similar hideaway for reading and studying that the crowds of commuters are yet to discover!

Anyhow, in my excitement over cafes and lunches, I forgot to mention that I went to be part of the audience for 8 out of 10 cats yesterday! A friend was allocated a bunch of tickets so four of us went and had an epic evening of comedy and general hilarity. Fortunate enough to see Stephen Mangan, who plays Guy Secretan in Green Wing, as well as the usuals - Jimmy Carr, Sean Lock and Jon Richardson and a few others. We were sat second row from the front, a few seats in, and literally had the best view you could've imagined. I've not yet watched the episode that was aired so I'm unsure if you can see the back of my head (right hand side, blue dress if so!) We had a great night and I realised how much I need to make use of free BBC things - it's genuinely the best night of free entertainment!

AND then this evening, as it was a friends' birthday, we went out for cocktails. Now, this seems to be becoming a bit of a regular habit of mine, this cocktail malarky, but what can you do when they're 2for1 because it's happy hour and the bartender is called Toby. In fact, tonight we met a number of bartenders; Sammy, Eric and Joe (although Toby was my favourite) and all of them shook our hands, asked us who we were and proceeded to allow us to help them make our delicious alcoholic beverages. Quite, quite delightful. There was also a lot of dancing and photos involved. Ohhh the joys of Shoreditch! Although, this place was a chain that I've definitely heard good things about so perhaps it's time to check out the other bars dotted over London. Now that doesn't sound like too much of a chore to me...

So, with so much excitement it's time for bed. Sadly for me Saturday isn't set to be too thrilling, I need to plow on with the uni deadlines and get some things sorted. Perhaps if I'm super productive I'll take the evening off.

Until my life gets a bit more exciting, I encourage you to find some quirky coffee spots, comedy and cocktail bars to keep you entertained. I can assure you that's it's the best way to spend a Friday!!!!

Love and hugs xoxoxo


PS - May the Fourth be with you. xxx

A Sunday of Delights

I returned to London yesterday afternoon, and with quite a flourish managed to come last in the Pub Quiz I was at in the evening. The shame, the shame. Anyway...

Sundays are normally one of my favourite days of the week. They tend to involved going to church which I love, and that in turn also involves seeing friends which I love too. Mix in some coffee before, or dinner after and that's a good day right there. Today was a delight though.

This morning I met a friend for breakfast in Bethnal Green, and we went to Columbia Road flower market. I've been meaning to visit for ages, but until now have yet to find the motivation to get up early on a Sunday morning. I'm sure you understand. Anyway, after getting trapped behind a locked gate (oh the joys of uni security) and then getting a tad lost, I was finally able to meet Lizzie. We sat in a very cute cafe, eating croissants and drinking the best coffee I've had since leaving London three weeks ago. Then we poked about in the most exciting shops, full of books, vintage jewellery and designer clothes, before fighting our way through the stalls of flowers. I was so incredibly restrained to not buy anything, but they would've been ruined by the time I got home tonight.

As we both had other plans for the day it was a bit of a short trip, and though we could've happily listened to the busking cellist for a long while, we unfortunately had to leave. However, I think I might've found a new favourite place to hang out. 

The rest of the day I spent drinking tea and reading whilst waiting for friends, and then a huge starbucks social with friends from church before heading to church itself.

I've got plenty that's filling my brain so I'm going to read and journal and head to bed for an early night. I'm looking forward to the arrival of friends tomorrow as they return to uni. Hurrah for good things, and hurrah for sunday.

Delightful.

During the Hail

"March winds and April showers, bring forth May flowers"

I won't lie, the sky has been a little bi-polar the past few weeks, what with icy winds, torrential rain and the odd outburst of glorious sunshine. It's made spending time outside an adventure in itself, and I've successfully managed to destroy two umbrellas in the space of three weeks. 

Still, it's leant me some time to do some reading, and some chilling, both of which I don't do that much of. And, as I hear you scoffing at my lack of reading, let me qualify that...I read a lot. But that's because my degree makes me. (And don't get me wrong I love the learning, geek that I am!) But, it's not the same as picking up any ol' book that you find on your shelves, and hiding away with dusty pages and a cup of tea.

So, that's what I did these past few weeks. Whilst it hailed outside, I've been working my way through a number of books, mainly about dragons and magic, and elves and dwarves. What can I say, I like fantasy. It's been pretty delightful.

Unfortunately imagination isn't reality, and I've had to break into the real world on occasion. Fortunately for me, that's not too difficult when there are lots of friends to catch up with and new cafes to try.

Yesterday I went to a new deli, about 15 minutes from where I live. This place opened a few months ago, and as they have bunting in the windows, I rather expected to like the place. I wasn't disappointed. Armed with vanilla chai, a friend and I whiled away a couple of hours, pausing our conversation to buy some earl grey and marvel at the cuteness of the cafe. Everything was really reasonably priced (one of the benefits of not being in London!) and the staff were so friendly. Made me want them to sit down and join us. 

Anyway, following my lovely morning of civilised tea and chat, I joined some other friends for lunch before heading home (in the rain and hail I might add). Today I paid my respects to Nero and got some work done in there, following a trip to T.K.Maxx where I ogled their handbags and debated buying half of them. 

I was very restrained you'll be pleased to know. Anyway, the tiresome task that is packing needs to be done as I head back to London tomorrow. I love home, but living in that tiny-box-harry-potter-couldn't-fit-in room, has stretched me to my limits. 

I'll be sure to note any interesting people on my travels tomorrow, and write about my appalling performance at the pub quiz in the evening. For now, I'm going to ignore the looming deadlines and exams that require my attention, they along with the hail can remain outside of my thoughts. 

Love and nuzzling friends.

xxx

Realisation regarding TOWIE

As mentioned previously, due to a birth celebration, my friends and I had a civilised evening of cocktails and dinner, and then a not so civilised evening, going out themed as TOWIE. Now, for all of us this was a bit of a revelation when we realised that...

1. There is good reason we don't own, let alone wear, neon, tight clothing.

2. Fake tan that is 50p from Primark is always going to look bad, no matter the hope you have that it wont be a disaster.

I also discovered that although my ridiculously blonde eyebrows require a daily application of brow pencil, this is not nearly in the same league as that which is required when you're pretending you're from Essex. Also, fake eyelashes are a nuisance like no other.

So, with those realisations documented, here's a few ridiculous photos. 

In addition to the excitement of a TOWIE night, the past few days have been occupied with friends, work and family. Friday night me and the girls cooked a lot of duck, and made slutty brownies, a recipe we stole from The Londoner, which is incidentally, one of my new favourite blogs. Anyway, after essentially eating delicious heart disease, we watched In Time, with a bit of Justin Timberlake and then went to bed. Saturday I returned to the beach to begin my seventh season of work there. Yes, seventh. I'm not sure what to make of that, but there we go. Sunday was full of church and family, and today has been incessantly pouring with rain, so apart from a food shopping trip with the mother, I've been locked inside with a novel.

It may not be extravagant, but it's been a good couple of days. Anyway, I need to go do tedious things like wash up and write a to-do list. So, farewell for now, and in the meantime, enjoy drooling over the delights of my cooking!

Love xo

Holiday Weekend

Following the beauties of my Friday night, I was dubious as to whether the rest of my first weekend of holiday would live up to my high hopes. Fortunately I have been pleasantly surprised and find myself still awake at this crazy time of night in an attempt to process and remember everything. There's nothing like a little blog blabber to organise one's head!

So, Saturday I got up rather earlier than I usually would but made my way to West London to meet two friends from home. The plan was the Natural History Museum but this was somewhat delayed by their getting lost, and so I continued the interruption with a latte in a cafe around the corner. After being reunited, hugging a lot and squealing a little,we made our way to the musuem, and spent a couple of hours being awed by the giant whale, the inside of a camel, and the incredible dinosaur's. It's a geeks paradise I'm telling you. Lunch involved delicious french sandwiches and pudding and a little more coffee in a rather sophisticated place. The food was divine but we definitely didn't succeed in the sophistication stakes.

Anyway, a short hop over to Leicester Square to collect some show tickets and then a wander past Whitehall to the Southbank Chocolate Festival. There was insufficient freebies at said festival so we bought some cookies and millionaire's shortcake and enjoyed the cooking wonders that were about instead. The rest of the day saw us head back to Leicester Square and enjoy a casual mojito at a bar which overlooks the whole of London. Another day of loving the city. 

Whilst my friend's went to see Les Mis (incredibly, incredibly jealous!) I went home, finished my essay, watched some House and got an earlyish night. Perfection.

Today conisisted of church fun, so some student teaching stuff, church, then drinks at a bar for about three hours. We spent time sharing our testimonies and it's amazing to hear the diversity in everyone's stories. Being a bit of a story geek, I've fallen in love with the grace that allows each one of us a story that details God's redemption. Each one reminds me how much God cares about us individually, how he values all that way go through, and has an incredible way of making all things work together for our good. Tonight I heard things that belong in a fictional novel, and not someone's real life, but all of it, the blend together and the variety of ways that God has changed people just blows me away. I love, love, love grace.

Returning to the east, I went to a friend's house for some dinner (mainly because he'd offered to cook me curry! Hurrah!) and then we chatted until near enough now.

The morning shall see friends descending on the flat for some scrummy breakfast and a bit of a prayer session before I head to Waterloo and travel back to the hometown. I seem to have crammed a lot into the weekend, and this post as a matter of fact, but it's good just to splurge a little. Here's to hoping that the supposed snow doesn't actually arrive this week, I've been far too happy about free feet in flip flops and the floral summer dresses being unpacked.

Blessings and hugs to one and to all.

Love xoxo

A Little Perfection

Picture this, twenty people gathered around two burning fires, silently watching the girl with a guitar singing her heart out. Cold beer, mixed with a little lime sits in hand, and someone leans their head on a friends shoulder. The fires spit embers and smoke into the air and everyone shares that wistful moment, wondering if things could ever get more beautiful.

Harrow is a long way from where I live, it involves a ridiculous tube journey, and as we discovered this evening some running if you ever want to return from the outback that is zone five.

Despite this however, I have just enjoyed one of the best evenings possible. Some friends of mine live out that way, and the guys invited us over for a BBQ evening, with fire pits, huge amounts of food, and a whole lot of music and chat. It was the perfect start to the Easter holidays, for today I finished all of my lectures and seminars for first year. That's right, I seem to have survived.

It's time for this content child to head to bed, ready for an adventure with some friends tomorrow involving the Natural History Museum and a French Cafe.

Oh gosh, I love the blessings of my life.

The musings of Magpie

In England it is the 'summer bank holiday', according to my diary. Now, why we get a summer bank holiday and not a winter one, I really don't understand. Anyway, bank holidays are normally that typical English let down on the sun front. It tends to drizzle, turn grey and cause everyone to hibernate in ancticipation of winter. Not so this weekend, it's been sunny and people have been out and about.


The reason for that introduction is because it gives a little bit of background to my fuzzy lovey feeling that I currently have. This weekend I have once again been struck by the amazingness of my friends. Whether Christian or not, there are aspects and qualities that bless me, reduce me to unreasonably undignified laughter and shape me to be someone different, and hopefully better.

I look back at seasons in my life, at things I've been through that perhaps no one knew about and I'm amazed at where I stand. Like I said, generally feeling all fuzzy-wuzzy inside. Love and friendship does that to you. I'm pleased I'm not the person that I would be on my own, that God didn't abandon me to keep walking those paths that led to destruction and nothing but pride, and I'm seriously pleased that I've been given so many friends that I love spending time with.

In other news, I went to see this film




which made my head go a little woozy and has made me see things with a cartoon 'POW' or 'BOOM' above them for the rest of the day. Didn't quite know what to make of it. Go see it and tell me it doesn't make you feel like you're on drugs. I may give you a prize.


Peace and love
xoxox




PS Magpie appears to be a new name, based on what my name looks like in Elvish. I know, I know, I get cooler and cooler everyday. x