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

From Waterloo to a Ghost Village.

Monday morning I was due to leave London but after it was discovered there was a fridge of food that needed eating before I headed back to the south coast, some friends were invited over to help me munch down the box of eggs I didn't want to go off. We enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast of fruit and american pancakes before leaving for Waterloo. My lovely friends helped me with the burdensome suitcase and such and it wasn't long before I found myself on the train to the coast.

Unfortunately I'd drunk nearly an entire caffetiere of coffee over breakfast and then bought an iced latte at the station as I had some time to spare. Needless to say I was quite hyped up whilst in the crowded little train carriage. The day was amazingly sunny and as I travelled west, a friend and I decided it was a good day to head to the Purbecks, an area of hills and beach and general astounding beauty. 

So, not three hours from being in East London, I found myself standing in an abandoned village on a military firing range, admiring an art installation and the beautiful scenery. It was a little surreal. We were in Tyneham village, a place that the army took over in the early years of WW2 as they had a camp there already. It's only open a few weeks of the year, and though we'd tried and failed to visit over Christmas, the day was perfectly sunny. We headed to the beach and discovered the most stunning cliffs and hills, with a sail boat sat peacefully on the water. There was no one around. It was made even more perfect by the arrival of what looked like a pirate ship. I was fairly sure I'd found myself in some sort of novel. We finally left after taking a billion photos and watching the sunset, and succumbing to the dalmatians desire to eat the biscuits we'd brought. We saw deer on our return through the forest, and I arrived back home still somewhat in awe. 

Now the last few days haven't been quite so picturesque, but they have been fun. Tuesday I caught up with my friends, most of which I've not seen since Christmas. We're all a little mad, have an unhealthy appreciation for cake, and have a slight ability to laugh until our faces contort into the most grotesque shapes. Needless to say, we had a good evening of dinner and cocktails for the Irish one's birthday. It involved a lot of squealing and excitement. 

Yesterday I drank about a tank of tea as I caught up with another friend, before heading to the girls' house for dinner and fun. The evening ended on their new trampoline, gazing at stars and recovering from hysterical laughter and screaming which is the obvious result of bouncing around in the dark.

Today I was meant to work, but considering it's reverted back to winter, I wasn't needed at the beach. I plan to achieve some of the things on my to-do list and read a bit of my book about dragons. 

Oh, and tonight we're going out, dressed as TOWIE characters. 

Sometimes, just sometimes, I have to laugh at the insanity that is my life.

Much love amigos. 

xo