Life Update

First time I've ever done one of these, but I feel it is necessary and I really do want to start posting on this blog again as I actually quite enjoyed it. Sadly, A-levels is not the appropriate time to write blog posts -which sucks, but THEY'RE FINISHED!

I have no idea how well I've done in my exams and right now I don't want to think about it, as the traditional British weather has taken a turn for the better and the sun is out! This means that I won't get back into blogging until around September time, but I will do the odd post when I'm bored or if I can be bothered to.

SooooOOOoooooo...

I have ditched my Garden Centre job as a Till Operator, and honestly it's been a long time coming; I'm utterly chuffed to have left that place, and even better news: I now work in a night club! And it's awesome! 

So my new job occupation now is barmaid/bartender/bar staff - and it's a lot of hard work but I enjoy it so much! I'm paid less than the GC simply because I have less hours as I only work Saturday nights, but it's amazing and I genuinely never knew how much better I worked at night than in the day!

My hours are 11:30pm until 4:30am, which at first was like :O!!! But now I'm used to it and it means a gert lush lay in on the Sunday, as well as a cheeky mcdons breakfast in the mornings before I head off home and rest my sleepy head. 

So that's the job situation, which I'm extremely pleased about at the moment! 

I'm still planning my year off as I go along really - obviously being a barmaid isn't the most steady income in the world (especially if you want to save up to travel!) thus I will have to add an addition to that on weekdays, although I'm not too sure what I want to go into yet. I want my year off before uni to be special and not wasted, but right now it's summer and I don't want to work this beautiful weather away just yet!

Once I finally do get my 'dream job' or my 'dream job for now', I will be putting as much money as I can aside for travelling, which I'm hoping to do sometime in the February of 2016; I'm not sure where yet, hopefully the great land of Oz as my mum's cousin offered me to go over when I want to travel. After that, I'm hoping I will then be heading off to university, my choices being Exeter or Plymouth atm, but that could all change as I want to change the choice of subject to something else. I guess that's what most of this year off is going to be about: the cliché finding myself and what I actually want to do with my life!

Now ever since I've left sixth form, I was worried about exercising as walking to and there everyday was my main source of fitness. Without that, I may as well just become a sloth already. However, I've found an alternative that spells joy which is riding my bicycle; sometimes, it's real nice just to slip in your headphones, pack a bottle of water and a jacket just in case, and plan your journey while cycling. There's something almost therapeutic about it and for me it's really helpful when I'm feeling low or down about myself. It helps me clear my head and enhances my self esteem due to the exercise it's giving me. So my advice is whenever you feel low, whack out your bike!

So aside from getting embarrassingly drunk yet surprisingly happy, that's about it for now! After A-levels I thought I would sink into some deep down-phase and live forever in the walls of my tiny bedroom - but life's taken an unexpected turn and I'm actually feeling optimistic about the future!

Let me know what you guys are doing on your year's off or what you did on your years off, or what you're doing instead!

Katherine by Anya Seton - A Short Book Review

I'm a sucker for period dramas and this one really does put Philippa Gregory's best-seller 'The White Queen' to shame - and that's saying something!

Set in 14th-Century England in the rein of Edward III, Katherine de Rout comes to court (as her sister is lady-in-waiting to Queen Philippa - also fiancée to the legendary poet Geoffrey Chauncer) with the role of damsel in distress - due to turning many heads at court. She catches the legendary John of Gaunt, however he is married and she is betrothed to Hugh Swynford. When Hugh falls ill and mysteriously dies, Katherine becomes the Prince's mistress, alongside official governess of the Duke's two other children from his first marriage.

I'm sorry but I was in love with this romanticized story of the Duke and the ordinary, almost peasant-like girl; Seton just tells the story wonderfully and this gripping tale with all of it's realistic, lively characters really brings history to life. Trust me, you will struggle to put this down, whether history's your thing or isn't! Katherine's emotions and feelings really do come to life, and it's surprising how a once hated Duke can really make you swoon, even by today's standards! The gravitational pull between these two characters is passionate and addictive. Seton really succeeds with the art of repainting one of history's most infatuated love stories.

However grand this story may be, it did lack some depth to a certain degree due to the very few facts there were of Katherine Swynford's life. Although Seton did make up for this and did an inspiring job about bringing the characters alive with the little knowledge she could obtain!

Honestly, I could go on forever, but I'd end up spoiling the story! Read it for yourself and bring this story to life once more.

Rating: *****

5 tips to keep you smiling!

It's that time of year where exams are almost upon us, emotions are running high and everybody is getting their knickers in a twist over the most petty of things. Yes, it is a stressful-suppose-to-be-revising-instead-of-blogging month, however there are some things to look forward to after exams - like the summer! You know, I read a very interesting article on facebook that apparently the UK is going to be hit with a mega 3-month-lasting heatwave - and it was on Facebook so that has to be reliable! 

1. Time to yourself is key
If there's one valuable thing I can take away from two pointless years of Spiritual Journey, it's that many people do not have enough alone time - and this doesn't mean time to be lonely sat in your room, bored. The definition of alone time is having time to yourself to recap and think, to organise your thoughts and ideas and even your revision schedule. You can do this by not sitting in your room, staring at a blank wall (this will more than likely get you even more down in the dumps!) but perhaps taking a long walk with your headphones in, go some place new and explore. For those of you lucky enough to drive, journey somewhere out of town - my favourite places are Yate and Weston, but unfortunately for me, I haven't had the money to learn how to drive (nor the desire) so I bus it. Time on your own gives you time to reflect and even understand yourself a little more than you once did. I used to be an all-time worrier, and still can be, but taking time to relax and ponder makes me realise why I retaliated to some situations the way I did and actually gives my god-forsaken worrying mind time to relax and just - chill.  

2. Do something you enjoy and takes your mind off things

Don't be shy - this can be anything: from your guilty pleasure to your achievements. Personally, I enjoy picking up a book I haven't read in a while, playing on my 3DS (Zelda really does calm me down!) or plan some sort of mastermind story (that I never get round to finishing, let alone even writing!). Doing something you enjoy once in a while will boost your mood by a whopping 70% (I'm kidding - that statistic is made up, but doing something you enjoy does relax you an awful lot, I find!) If you find coursework is making your head throb, there isn't any harm in taking time out and doing something to reward yourself. It'll probe you to keep going and give you a new way of looking at your work - just don't enjoy yourself for so long that the textbook is sort of left there half-forgotten, or that bit of coursework that should have been in a long time ago left on your desk...I really shouldn't be doing this blog post, should I? *Dies a little inside*

3. Exercise!!!!!!

In the last two paragraphs, I have mentioned walking - and that's because walking is one of my de-stressers. Honestly, I don't have an obsession over it, but after a long walk I feel refreshed and I even feel a lot better about my body image. It doesn't have to be walking: some people benefit more from cycling, playing a game of football (urgh) or even hula hooping - Yes, that's a thing!! 
You don't have to join a gym to have to get fitter, there are plenty of ways of doing it and doing it daily will really boost your self esteem, in turn making you feel a whole lot happier!

4. Don't be a hermit

Go out! Have fun! When was the last time you actually went on a daytrip with your best friend? Or enjoyed a pizza with the squad?? Humans are very sociable beings - much like guinea pigs (if you don't believe me, click here and look at tip two!) and if we're on our own for too long, we can go insane. And that's not even me making this up - ever feel a little extra crazy after two days in on the weekend? 

Socialising with people will make you realise that people do have an interest in your opinions, your hobbies and may even share your interests. If you feel your friends aren't making you happier, then it's time to shop for some new ones. The whole point of the word friendship is someone who enhances you and makes you feel good about yourself. We've all had some really utterly rubbish friends at some point, but the way to get past it is to hang out with someone else for a while. How about that nice girl you sit by in English who shares the same interest in Harry Potter as you? 

5. Do not compare yourself to others

This is the biggest deflater everrrrrrr and we all do it! Why do we do it to ourselves? Why do we compare our bodies, our general appearance, our personality to others? I do it an awful lot, and one of my best friend's Abi hates it. When loads of people notice someone around you, it is really hard not to feel a hint of envy towards them, but don't turn bitter; there's plenty you strive in that they don't and to be honest - that's just life. In the wise words of my History bud Ginny: 'People are going to be prettier and better than you, you're just going to have to get over it.' Wise words Ginerva, wise words. 

What is Achievement?

My pet hate is when people say that if you don't go to University, then you've achieved nothing and you're going to be stuck in a dead-end job that you'll forever hate and you'll just hate life in general. This is bollocks. I'm not saying don't go to uni, you may aswell get a job after school/college etc but for those of you who feel pressured to go to uni to impress your parents - don't.

I understand mum & dad's p.o.v: I mean sure, you want your children to achieve, climb the ladder and earn cash like there's no tomorrow...but will they be happy?

 

Around the start of Autumn my mum and I religiously watch The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills. These people are loaded, and they're certainlly not afraid to show it. However, although they're fortunate in the 'never having to work again' principle, they seem poor in other areas: for example, their friendship with "friends" are as fake as Katie Price's knockers. Maybe it's a little cliche to say this, but I value friends a lot more than money; I feel like what is the actual point in having so much dolla if you have no friends to share it with? I know of people who are so unhappy and yet they're the most spoilt people out of the lot, who never have to worry about money and yet still struggle to sleep at night or who suffer from other issues. Then there's the complete opposite end of the spectrum; when you watch documentaries of people living in Third-World areas and yet they still have a genuine smile on their face. This just proves to me that money isn't everything.

Achievement to me is short and simple: to have those around me who love & care for me, people who are there when I need them and to have enough money to live on and have a good time. With really really good friends, you don't need an awful lot of money to have a good time with; a simple walk with Leanne and Zoe, or a little cry with Steph and Abi at some disney movie, even just a drive round with Danielle and Emma makes my day. I just feel like people put so much effort into how much money they have that they almost make themselves ill, and forget what it's really like having little or no money.

Therefore, achievement isn't nessicarily passing college with flying colours, going to University, having so much money that you don't know what to buy first - but something which you enjoy and makes you happy - just whatever you plan on doing, make sure you're doing it for you.







Favorite Summer Photos - 2014

*Sigh* Oh how I miss the summer. All that's getting me through my last year of college is the fact that after all exams, the hot weather will meet us and there's no priorities for 3 months, yay! (for me, anyway!) 

Steph's party was fabulous - from left to right: Steph, me, Abi - April 2014

Myself & Jack: Start of April - when we all went to the Bath Fair! Really fun day out

Me @ Bristol Balloon Fiesta - August 2014

Bristol Balloon Fiesta again - left to right: Leanne, Jack, Grace, Jamie, Me

Went on a hugeee bike ride back in June 2014 - Whitchurch to Chew Valley Lake! 16 miles

Jack's party, good night! - June 2014

Spending summer on the field at Sixth Form was adorable - have a lot of lovely memories from there! May 2014

There was a time when myself & Steph had an obsession with going to town like every day

Really really really bad quality photo - but this sunset was so beautiful - so many beautiful summer times spent in Yate

Review: Toni&Guy Glamour 3D Volumiser

Birthday & Christmas is always a time for me to explore new products that I haven't used before. I had heard many people rant and rave about Toni&Guy, although sadly I never have enough money to go wild and try out new hair products. However, I was super excited when I unwrapped one of my gifts and it was the Toni&Guy 3D Volumiser (sad, right?) and couldn't wait to give it a try!

I was not disappointed; after washing my hair with a volumising shampoo, I wait for it to dry until it's damp and then I just lift sections of my hair and spray this into the roots. The spray really enhanced my very fine hair and made it look not only fuller and thicker, but also vibrant and full of life! Unlike using mousse, which I find can sometimes make my hair sticky or greasy, this 3D Volumising spray worked a treat by feeling light when sprayed into my roots and massaged in.

If your hair falls limp and dull and you're sick of trying out different hair products which don't seem to have a lasting affect on your hair then look no further! I couldn't imagine my life without this little handy spray bottle now and I will definitely buy this product again as it is well worth the money!

*Tip: To increase the volume in your hair after using this spray, use a back-combing brush (I bought mine from Boots, but other pharmacies will also sell them) and back brush at the root of the hair; hairspray to keep in place after you've brushed the back brush out so you don't look like you've been dragged through a bush backwards!

How To Feel Confident Without Makeup

I know too many people who would never go out makeup free and this fact worries me. Why should people feel that their natural face needs to be covered in order to look good? 

I was this girl once. I wore makeup everyday to school because people told me I looked better with it, and this really did have an effect on my confidence. It has taken me a long time to accept my face without it, and realize that there are other ways of looking good without having to wear a face full of makeup.
So with that, here are some tips that I use rather than wearing makeup, which make me feel better. I hope you find them useful! 

1. Stay hygienic and cleanse
This is the key to making your skin glow and stand out! Now in my time I've used a hell of a lot of face washes until I suffered with minor acne. After a trip to the doctors to pick up some Duac cream, I asked my doctor about face washes and he assured me that actually, face wash is no different from ordinary soaps. As long as you don't use perfumed soaps, your skin won't react badly and it's equivalent to using a face wash. So as long as you wash your face as well as your body daily with a good organic soap (I use Simple personally) your ready to go!

2. Moisturise! 
...Or are you ready to go? Not so fast! I know a lot of you oily skin types out there who skip this step - I used to be the same, trust me! But actually not using a moisture cream can increase oil as your skins dried out and your body wants to keep it moist. This can also increase acne and spots, from my understanding. The best Moisturiser by far is again the Simple Kind To Skin Light Moisturiser, which for those of you who have oily skin (like me) will find really refreshing and dries into your skin within minutes! For my skin in general I use lots of different moisturising creams, which are: 

Nivea Body Moisturiser Rich Nurishing 
Made With Love
Ghost The Fragrance
Baylis & Harding Skin Spa
Champneys Spa Indulgence Distant Shores Body Butter
(P.S. Some of these moisurisers I had in a set for Christmas so I'm not sure if they can be sold separately!)

 So moisturising is a must guys in order to freshen your skin and keep that shimmering glow from your cleansing! 

3. Wear something which flatters your figure
This is where a lot of people go wrong and I blame fashion; I know of people who literally buy things because they're "the in thing" which I'm not saying isn't fine but come on people...have some originality! Don't buy something for the sake of it, buy something you feel comfortable in and feel confident in. Honestly, when you feel confident in an outfit and comfortable it's so much more noticeable that if you wear something because everyone has it. For example, I would say my build is slim & curvy, so for example, I tend to wear a lot of play suits in the summer as they outline that I do have a waist so I don't feel frumpy. You will add to that inner glow if you feel confident guys, trust me!


4. Vaseline!
Oh Vaseline, you have been my savoir many a time.  I feel like Vaseline is like a mother; never fails to make us look or feel better (Is that what a mother does?). What I tend to do is rub a little bit of Vaseline onto my eyelashes and my eyebrows, then wait 2 minutes for it to dry in a little bit. I then use my £1 eyelash curlers from Primark (and they've lasted me years!) and curl my eyelashes for about 5 secs on each eye, then smooth out my brows either with my fingers or with an eyebrow brush. I find this really makes the eye area stand out without using mascara or any other makeup for that matter. And, you can itch your eye without the fear of having panda eyes, bonus!

I hope this post helped people out there who feel unworthy without makeup. I am not slating makeup at all, I wear it on a night out but I do not wear it as a regular, daily thing, but that's me. I think as long as you feel happy in your skin then why let others judge who you are? 

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A Few Favorites

I decided to post a few things that I enjoy using or just generally love, not to promote the product as such, but merely to share my favorite objects and why. 

My Owl Hand Mirror

When I opened this on Boxing Day I was so touched by the thoughtfulness that had gone into this gift: every time I receive a gift from Jamie's parents it's always something owl and I loooooooove it!

The Mirror itself is actually quite delicate as it is made from some sort of metal (come on guys, you should be use to my vagueness now!) and it's just shiny and so pretty! Honestly I don't know what else to say about it, I mean just look at the photos and see for yourself!

Nintendo 3DS

Ah my trusty companion...you have helped me through boredom many a time. For those of you who had one of these in one hand wherever you went in your childhood and are still in love - look no further! I'm so in love with mine; from the little things such as game demos you can download and try out, to big things such as the full games themselves. I'll tell you a secret - Ocarina of Time looks amazing 3D!

 My Baby Owl Candle

Behold! Not only is this small Owl a cute little ornament, but also a candle! And it has a sweet scent of Vanilla, too! I need to learn how to use lighters so I can try this baby out...

Lip Butter

I guess with this item I just really love the scent and the softness. Whenever I went round Steph's I'd use her's and one day I was shopping in Morrisons and found them lingering around waiting to be bought...I'm a sucker for sweet smells!

My Beautiful Rings

As I may or may not have mentioned in previous posts, I'm devoted to my rings! And I'm picky too: real silver, natural semi-precious stone - or it's a no-no.
Starting from top-left: 1. (Amber) Flower ring.
Properties: balances emotions and clears stress
From: Crystals
2. Silver leaf ring.
From: Silver Scene
3. (Labradorite) ring.
Properties: enhances self-esteem and said to be 'the stone of magic'
From: Silver Scene
4. (Malachite) Vintage Indian-style ring.
Properties: 'Green is good for the heart' 'Green is the color of love'
From:Crystals

Books

In this photo are books I've read, in the process of reading, or have not read. But in general, you can't beat a long relaxing read in a bubbly hot bath. For those who can't make out what books are there, here is the list from top to bottom: To Kill A Mocking Bird - Harper Lee
Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian
His Brother's Wife - Val Wood
The Color Purple - Alice Walker
Katherine - Anya Seton
P.S. I will start doing book reviews on the books I have read! 

Birthstone - Dedicated To My Stephanie

'You have to wait here,' Steph said. It was one of our many trips into town and we were in Waterstones having a browse. 'Why?' I queried.
'Because - because -' She sighed as she usually did when I pestered about something she was obviously trying to cover it up. 'I'm getting you a presant.'

'Oh!' Finally I understood. Grumbling to herself, Steph stalked off for ten minutes abd returned with a small paper bag. 'Open it!' She inisted.

Myself and Steph are actually quite sweet like that. We'll buy each other small gifts to remind the other that all the hateful banter is to hide our true loving feelings.
So, as you've probably guessed, it was this stone, hence why the title is dedicated to my Badabajja. It's the birthstone for Aquarius from Evolution, one of my favorite shops. The stone is called Aqua-something (no surprise, but I can't actually remember - will have to get it re-identified!) however unlike my other gemstones I tend to wear on my fingers, I think this one is not natural - although I could be wrong...

A Few Photography Favs

One thing I really regret about A-levels, is the fact that I never took photography. There's something therapeutic and relaxing about taking photos of something or someone and then editing them - or so I find, anyway. Therefore, I decided to share a few of my favorite photos taken rather than edit my history coursework. Enjoy!
P.S. All of these photos are taken by iPhone 4S, so the quality up close may be a little blurred - we don't all have the money to buy a Nikon! 

**DISCLAIMER - ALL PHOTOS BELOW ARE TAKEN BY ME, MYSELF AND I**

Fields, fields, fields - Whitchurch Summer 2014

More fields around my area - Summer 2014

Ruins in Penzance, Cornwall - July 2014

Beautiful view, so relaxing - July 2014 (Holiday)

Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-Upon Avon - March 2014

Ozzie cuddled up with his bone - strangely quite adorable!

Trafalgar Square, London - Nov 2014

My pooch Ozzie - snoozing on my leg

Talent! - Trafalgar Square

Labradorite ring

Bunny Selfie - Lionhead

Ozzie waking me up in the morning

Every rose has its thorn

Hi all, this is one of my more depressing posts. If you want more jolly stuff then scroll down or sit back and wait for some more joyful blog posts coming your way!

Losing the closest person to you (in some cases) can be the most heartbreaking and hardest period of your life ever! Especially if that person has been through the pleasurable times as well as the oh-my-god-kill-me-now times with you.

I have recently lost my best friend and it has been horrible. I have lost many best pals in the past but it really doesn't make it easier every time someone who was once that close to you has left you. Honestly, in some cases, I think losing your best friend is equally as severe as a break up.

I know it's hard to trust others, especially if you have been betrayed or let down by this once important person to you, but there are way better people out there who will treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve. This can be applied to general break-ups or friendship break-ups, and I know you're probably thinking 'oh god Charlie,you sound just like my mum -.-!' but trust me, there are strategies to help you sit & wait for these angels and here are a few of mine:

1. Keep yourself busy. 
Go out with your other friends and try and keep your mind from thinking about that person and the good times you had. Try new things, go to new places! Avoid at all costs going somewhere that once held a lot of importance between you and that person. If you don't feel you have many friends or that you're not that close to others - take this time as an opportunity to get close to people and start again - build your life back up and be the person you want to be with these awesome new people. They don't need to know anything of your past and that's the beauty of it. Learn from the mistakes you made with the other person and change things this time around. Treat the past as an experience, not a regret!

2. Block, block, block!

I feel this is very important: the amount of people who still have issues with their exes or ex-best pals due to not blocking them completely, whether they're giving you grief or not...just do it, OK?
Even if they haven't done anything wrong, if you're struggling to fight the urge to see what they're up to on Facebook or Twitter then this is only going to worsen how you feel. The best thing to do is distance yourself from the stimuli and focus on other things. Remember that coursework due this Monday? Get it done! Remember that book you never actually read throughout? Finish it! Again try different things to take your mind off of things, and thus push that person to the back of your mind. It is unlikely you will forget (especially if they were a big part of your life) but it will ease the pain and sooner or later you will realize & accept the person they are and find people to replace who will make you happy, people who will treat you much better than the previous stimuli.

3. Lose ties with those who are part of the situation.
Just cut out anyone involved in the situation in a negative way. You know, interfering exes or people who are just making everything 99% more difficult. Add them to the block list!

4. Delete/remove any pictures or posts which resemble or remind you of the stimuli.
Again, like the blocking method, this can also help prevent your feelings from worsening. You don't necessarily have to delete them as such (hypocrite, I know) but put them somewhere you won't look or move them onto a memory stick and give that memory stick to your friend or family member if it takes that much. It'll ease the pain an awful lot and will stop you dwelling on what was and what is no longer.

I hope these strategies work for you, please let me know any other methods to ease these sorts of feelings either in the comments or feel free to message me!

Outfit of the day

Finding what to wear when having a catch up with your friends can be one of the largest First World girl problems. I'm usually scowled at by my mother for decorating my bedroom floor with mountains of clothes until I find something I think is half decent to wear. 

Well a few weeks previously I had this exact issue; too many clothes but no decent ones to clothe myself in. Until I found this cute polka-dot shirt hiding in my over-crowded wardrobe. 

Originally from Select, I actually was given to this when my bud Steph (who purchased it from a charity shop) was sorting out all her old clothes. I've always been a sucker for shirts - I feel they really bring an outfit  to life, giving it that casual - formal look. 

I'm not actually sure if you can even buy this shirt anymore as I know my friend had it for quite a long time, but the best places to shop for clothing I feel, are charity shops. For those of you who want to know what charity shops I shop in, I will be doing a blog post about it at some point. 

The material of the shirt is soft and actually quite see-through (note: when I do wear this shirt I always make sure I have a vest on underneath or a crop top!), feeling quite light weight, yet unbreakable. 

I decided to put this shirt with some Primark legging, choosing to tuck the shirt in rather than loose but either still gives the same affect. I also decided to wear my thick pink winter socks also from Primark with my DMs - which I am absolutely in LOVE with at the moment! I am a firm believer that shoes really enhance an outfit and honestly Doc Martins dress up any outfit. Due to having second day hair, for the final touches, I decided to give my hair a half-up/half-down style - which is a really good look if you blast it with plenty of dry shampoo beforehand to give it extra volume and texture. I felt this hairstyle really gives a casual outfit that carefree, old-school feel and enjoying sporting this hairstyle an awful lot more than I should. Finally, I finished this hairstyle with my floral scrunchy from Loot (which I'm not sure is even visible in the photo - bad quality soz guys!) 

Prices - 
Leggings - £3
Socks - Under £2
Floral scrunchy - £2.50 
DM - £95 (Schuh)

Jock - Reviving my confidence in riding

Back in September of 2014, I went to a horse yard which held the pony that Leanne was renting. His name was Jock, and I wish I knew my breed of horse - but I don't so sorry to disappoint.

(If you can spot what breed he is, please let me know!)

Jock was beautiful and so easy to ride. For someone who hasn't rode a horse in 10 years, Jock took things at a slow pace for me - almost like he knew how nervous I was. The first time I rode him, Leanne walked me around on the rope and took the rope off when I felt confident enough. I never knew how tough it was to direct a horse, finding a fine line between being stern yet listening to him. 

I bonded so much with Jock and really started to look forward to taking a trip down Yate to ride him with Leanne. However, there was one horse who was a youngster called Billy who I fell for instantly.

He was gorgeous - once again I can't recall the breed he is and I really need to ask Leanne for this info. I never rode him as he was too young - but I had never felt so at ease with a horse. He had the most beautiful temperament, he was so playful and friendly. I honestly felt such a connection with him.


Both Billy and Jock lived on this cute secluded yard just down a country lane in Nibley. Nearing the autumn, myself and Leanne would stroll down the lane and spend hours upon hours just brushing Jock or taking turns riding him or playing with Billy. I've had some really lovely memories there, although sadly I haven't seen Jock or Billy in so long as Leanne doesn't rent Jock anymore. However, in the summer months I will persuade her to go and visit him with me just because of the memories and how much we bonded with them.


Honestly, this experience really changed my view on horses. Before I went and saw Jock for the first time I was petrified of them, although when I was younger I used to ride horses every Saturday and it became my hobby. I grew close to a small dark brown pony whose name I cannot recall (sorry guys, my memory's crap!) but after a while I just stopped doing it and I slowly became more and more awkward and anxious around them - although I had never been extremely confident to start off with. The amount of times Leanne tried to get me to ride Molly, the mare she loaned before Jock and I chickened out last minute with is ridiculous. One time, I went to my Aunt & Uncle's yard where they sat me on a pony identical to Jock called Bounty to ride and I just froze up in shock and was removed off him immediately.

I wouldn't say I am completely over my nervousness of being around horses, but I have definitely improved, all it takes is the right horse and a little time! You can apply this to many things and I guess the message I'm trying to portray here is a cheesy one -
Just try everything at least twice. And if it doesn't work out then know that you put your heart and soul into that last chance and you gave it a good go.

Perfect Penzance

If you're looking for a quiet get away, Cornwall is your calling!


It was my first holiday ever away with my boyfriend and his family - I know, scary! The verdict: amazing!

For those who are questioning whether or not to go on holiday with your current partner and have any worries, then my advice to you would be - what are you waiting for! GO FOR IT!! Honestly, if you feel it will be awkward as you don't know his/her's parents very well, then that's even more reason to go. Get closer, get to know each other more! By the end of the week I knew Jamie's family a lot better than the first day we arrived and it has only enhanced my relationship with them since.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand; so this was the first time I've ever been to Cornwall on a holiday (my parents are all for 'going all out' when going on holiday, which resulted to some beautiful holidays abroad when I was younger) and it was everything people told me it would be: relaxing, charming, a slower pace of life...and I fell head over heels for it.

 

The car rolled up to the intimate drive behind the vintage cottage and we stepped out with bundles of luggage gathered in our arms, the salty warm breeze hitting us like a strong scent of Chanel perfume. It really was paradise - the cottage was a 10 minute walk from the cliffs which overlooked the turquoise sea smashing into the worn rocks below.

The cottage was located in the most minuscule village I have ever seen, next door to a local inn and opposite luxury, white washed detached houses. The cottage itself was cosy, the living room complete with a burgundy snug armchair and two comfortable sofas lined against the stone walls; Paintings possessed by boats and beaches ran along them and a large mirror hung just above the log fire mantelpiece. The kitchen had a wooden polished family table, with a platter of fresh scones, tubs of whipped cream and a home-made jar of strawberry jam carefully set down in the centre. A small breakfast bar with small compartments beneath them, cloaked with checked blue and white cloths, where cream platters and plates were hidden. Opposite the front door was the narrow staircase, leading up to the bedrooms and the bathroom. There were two double bedrooms and one with bunk beds, each room decked with wooden floorboards. The bathroom had a cerulean blue theme, with a walk-in shower and a small window facing the fields from behind the cottage. The entire home felt as if we were in a beach house - and as I fell more and more in love with the cottage as I inhaled and smelled the salty sea air.

One of my favorite days on holiday, was the first day we all went to the beach as the weather was promising. We had to be specific with beaches as my boyfriend's family had bought their Border Terrier Ella along, so we had to find a dog-friendly beach. Luckily we found one - £2 entry (bargain!!) and dog-friendly. It was perfect! Located right next to St Ives' local beach and small town, this beach (which I THINK is Porthmeor Cove although I may be wrong so don't hold me to my word) was littered with the clearest rock pools where me and my boyfriend would chill in as they were much warmer than the sea.

On this day, me, my boyfriend & his dad went in the sea as soon as we arrived - which, can I say, was the first time I've ever properly been in the sea, I mean I've paddled but Jamie and his dad went out really far. The waves got bigger and bigger and crashed into everyone. I was beginning to get a little nervous and we went out so far that I couldn't feel the sand beneath me - which panicked me. I told Jamie my concern with which he responded: 'okay, we'll head back,' and just as we began making our way back to the shore, the sea grew larger and larger into the biggest wave yet. I called out to Jamie before I was swallowed up and dragged beneath the water.

Now, you're probably thinking what the hell Charlie? Why go in the sea if you can't swim? Well as a matter of fact, I can, I'm just not an amazing swimmer; I'm used to swimming pools, not the sea! So anyway, I was dragged under and i pushed and swam my way up to the top of the surface - which appeared much more difficult than first planned - finally I reached the surface and went to yelp out but before I could even catch my breath I was pulled under again and, once again, I swam the hardest I've ever swam before to the surface and shrieked out for Jamie; I was petrified! Luckily, Jamie's an awful lot taller than me and a much better swimmer, and as I was dragged under again he came to my rescue and picked me up. The vicious waves perused once again, but this time Jamie fully went under and my head was just above the water, in courtesy of Jamie lifting me up.

We finally made it to the shallow shore, at which point I was shaking uncontrollably and nearly in tears about my near-death experience. Jamie kept banging on about my boob hanging out of my bra and when I looked up I saw Jamie's dad looking over to make sure I was OK. I awkwardly adjusted my strap quickly in haste, praying to GOD that his dad didn't see my naked bosom. However, in the words of my great friend Mr. Thacker: Sod the boob! Even if Jamie's dad did catch a glance, he never brought it up, but came over to make sure I was all right which was sweet. But ever since that experience I have been far too terrified to go further into the sea than my waist.

Penzance was the definition of gorgeous and it had so much to offer - from sandy tropical-like beaches to cute high streets with non-mainstream shops. It really brought me and my boyfriend closer together as a couple - we even cooked dinner together one night to say thank you to his parents for letting me come along (although it was VERY stressful having him in the kitchen!) It was a holiday I would definitely never forget and I would 100% be willing to go back there again - which I'm planning to do this summer: camp for 4 days in Cornwall somewhere near one of it's breath-taking beaches - as long as the waves aren't towering over me!

My Top 10 Childhood Video Games

Okay so I decided to do this list to introduce myself as the gamer I am - and to inform (and also warn) you all that a lot of my posts will be about some sort of gaming series.

Ever since I got my PlayStation one faithful Christmas (or was it my birthday?) I have always LOVED playing video games. This then prompt me to beg my parents to non-existence for a PS2 and a gameboy, and when that gameboy got outdated, I ranted and raved for the new NintendoDS. Now I was a retro kid - I had the gba despite the gameboy sp being out AND I had the very first ever DS - can I just add that I still own my very first DS, or would that be boasting!

Anyway, enough waffle, lets get on with it!
(Disclaimer: I do not own any of the franchises displayed. Plus,this list only includes console/hand-held console games & my ranks are based upon my most nostalgic choices!)



10.  The Sims - PlayStation2!
My list starts off with one of the best PS2 games of all time (or at least, in my opinion) - The original Sims. What makes this game one of the best games I have ever played? merely the fact that you can control people's lives and make them do almost anything! I used to love playing God in this game, making certain Sims hate or love each other, taking away their free will. Did I mention I enjoy watching game character's lives destruct?
One of my best memories that holds this game very close to my heart, is when my friend Holley came round and told me you could make babies on there. 'You've got to be kidding me!' I gasped.
'I'll show you!' She insisted. Whether we were too young to comprehend that 20 minutes was not an hour long or it genuinely took us light years to figure out how to make a couple have babies, is still unknown to me to this day; but what I do know is that after what seemed ages, we finally figured out how you can have babies **SPOILER ALERT** which is through making two Sims fall in love and keep clicking on make-out until one of them asks if the other wanted to try for a baby. Myself and Holley were thrilled we literally screamed when it came up we were so happy.
But yeah, definitely a game to try out if you haven't already; a fun and easy mechanism to make your life feel a little less pathetic or boring.


9. Nintendogs - NintendoDS
What do you do when you really want a puppy but your mum won't allow you to have one due to her excuses being: 'It'll make the house a mess' or 'I'd be the only one walking it' or 'It's a lot of responsibility'. So, before my mum agreed to getting another dog which landed us with Ozzie, I put Nintendogs on my Christmas list to Santa.
I remember having endless fun on this game. Training your dog to compete in trials (my favorite by far was agility - probably because it was the easiest), taking them for the longest walk they can do and still trying to work out how the hell you get rid of fleas with a comb that never seemed to WORK (it might just be me being stupid and it's probably so simple - if you know how please end my years of torture of not knowing this information!) and everything in between.Overall though, the best thing I really did like about this game was the multi-player - meeting up with your friend's pooches!
So yeah, if you have always wanted a pup like I have but your parents won't allow it, or even if you have no time to get an actual real animal of some sort for yourself, then Nintendog's is definitely the game to grab next! (suitable for all ages!)



8. Mariokart - NintendoDS
By far the GREATEST racing game of all time - not only with the power ups and items you obtained through colourful bobbing question mark boxes, but by far the funniest. Playing this on multi-player against my brother as a kid was awesome - I enjoyed every last second of always beating him!
Although the controls were a bit off and awkward from time to time, I still had an awful lot of fun playing this game. I enjoyed working out all the shortcuts so I could beat my brother - harder and faster! But, he would never admit to that...



7. Pokemon Ruby - Gameboy Advance
This was the second Pokemon game I ever played and I adored every minute of it. I loved the story behind Groundon and Kyogre and their battle from thousands of years ago - the capturing of Groundon himself was epic (I assume he's a male...wouldn't it be weird if he was a she?) by Pokemon standards and creating your own secret hideouts and decorating them with toys and furniture
I honestly am so excited about the remark release and I wish it wasn't as expensive as it is because I would so buy it. If you're a Pokemon fan and you've never played this game, it's pratically a classic and you are definately missing out by a long shot!


6. Super Mario Bros - NintendoDS
Everything about this game screams renaissance - or am I being too much of a nerdy history student (those of you who got the pun, I am so sorry it was so crap!) of the first few Mario games NES and SNES. Super Mario Bros has everything - the rather challenging levels for an 8 year old kid, the rebirth of some old Mario world tunes and just a really great game in general. I think what I most love about this game, is the multi-player. This was once again one of the many games me and my brother competed at and it just made the entire game so much more fun. My favorite memory from this game was when myself and my brother were playing it in the pipe world (or whatever it's actually called) and I obtained the mega mushroom and became, as the game title kindly states, SUPER Mario!! So I was stomping around, as you do, trying to tackle my brother down and then steal his precious stars, until I shrank into normal Mario. Rather than just landing on the ground, Mario began to float away into the pipework and myself and my brother couldn't help but roar with laughter at that glitch. Honestly, I wished I recorded it, because explaining it does not give it enough credit for how hilarious I found it at the time.


5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - PlayStation

For those of you up to date specimen who played the PS2 version of this game - I envy you, as I played that a few years back and I felt that if I was a kid I would have really enjoyed it. To be honest, I've written here a specific title, the 'Chamber of Secrets' but honestly, the first 3 Harry Potter games were top notch! I think what really put this game on the list isn't that it's an amazing, classic game like the rest - because honestly, this game has a lot of flaws. But me being biased me has decided to put it this high on the list because it would just be a crime not to mention this title, let alone put it high on the list; the hours and hours of effort and swear my dad and I put into this game together - it was a really special bonding few hours we had together and what actually made us super close when I was younger. I just remember how hard I found the entire game, trying to steer the broom when flying in a Quidditch match as well as waiting after every storybook scene to see the little quill and parchment come up so you knew your game was definitely auto-saved. There were even some parts I hated playing in this game, for example the de-knoming took me absolute years to figure out (note: I was 6/7 when I first played this game).
However, I really enjoyed visiting Diagon Alley and doing in all the different shops to win Potion ingredients. I remember when I finally completed this game (which was probably the first game I had ever completed at this point) and the thrill I had, the pride that thudded through my chest and then telling dad that I had completed it and how proud he was of
me. This game holds a lot of emotional memories, if you hadn't already noticed.



4. Animal Crossing - NintendoDS
There was so much about Animal Crossing that I really loved; for one, the characters were out of this world. My absolute favorite had to be Peewee, the bad-tempered Gorilla who owned a golden Japanese cat (sorry - I don't know the name of it!). One of my favorite events on Animal Crossing was the flea market - where I would cheat and go to lost property and the recycling bin in the Town Hall and take any tacky furniture/clothing I would find and try and sell it at a reasonable price to the animals. I made some pretty good deals - selling shirts for 2,000 bells - I don't know why they refused to buy it...
I also really liked the fact that the Animal Crossing neighbours would always remember your birthday - your best friend giving you a gift which was always a cake. It was something very small but actually quite sweet at the same time - again, like the Sims, Animal Crossing is one of those games you should definitely play if you're feeling lonely! I also became a pro at fishing (if I do say so myself) and would constantly use it as a meals of making money - rather than selling fruit for a living. I feel that was the game's biggest downfall - the fact that you were unable to run your own buisness - I mean, how cool would that be?


3. Sims 2 - PlayStation2
How could I miss this game out of my list? I mean come on! It was amazing! The amount of different types of furniture you could buy/unlock, you could also Woohoo in bed with a Sim and on the PS2 that was never possible before (or from what I know of!). The graphic design improved an awful lot too so the females didn't constantly glare and the men didn't have that 'I just sucked a lemon' look anymore. Even the music had really improved and I loved creating the Sim, because the music made me feel like I was giving this Sim a promising start to the game and it was going to be oh so exciting and fun (yeah...I didn't really get up to much as a kid...) One feature I also really adored in this was the fact that if your Sims die, you could still play them but as ghosts! Creepy, right? Well, not really. But it made the game 10x more fun to haunt the crap out of the Sim's housemates, then bargain your life with the Grim Reaper through a battle of violins.
Despite all the positives this game had to offer, I was still very disappointing that in this game you couldn't actually have offspring, not even when I tried the making-out over and over again trick. I also think another downfall to this game was that you could only have 4 people living in a house together - what if I wanted 6? Then what EA games? Hm??

2. Pokemon Leaf Green - Gameboy Advance
This game really is a trip down memory lane - my first ever Pokemon game. Ever. And I loved every minute of it!
I remember my childhood best friend Zoe purchasing this game and watching her play it. I was baffled at how to fight other Pokemon and get as good as Zoe did. After having my first try at it on Zoe's gameboy sp, I fell hopelessly in love with it and decided to purchase the game myself (or at least beg mum to buy it for me...thanks mum!)
I'll be honest: I think that overall, Ruby is better than Leaf Green in lots of ways, despite being older than it by a year (although it must be taken in consideration that Leaf Green is a remake of Pokemon Blue and Red) it had a lot more to offer: for instance, the PokeNav, The secret hideouts, the move 'Dive'and so on. But Leaf Green holds the key to my heart, as I remember just how much fun I had playing this game as a kid, and being my first Pokemon game, it really came to life to me. I loved battling Misty and Brock as they were two of the main characters in the first season of the Pokemon Anime series, I just loved the entire story of the game, and although not being as in depth as Ruby's was, I still had a lot of fun and a lot of good memories of this game.
Oh, and just for the record, my starter Pokemon was either Baulbasaur or Charmander. I never picked Squirtle as I always struggled with him when I got to Misty. Stupid, right?


1. Super Mario 64 - NintendoDS

This game is the bee's knees no doubt about it! I love the cut scenes, the simple story line, and I just really really enjoyed playing this in my youth. I remember my friend Joe had this game and I watched him play it and it just looked so fun and interesting, I had to buy it! For a DS back in the day (oh god, how old do I sound?) the graphics were out of this world and the game play incredible. I loved all the levels and sometimes I didn't even get stars but wandered around  trying to get to places I couldn't reach before I unlocked the mystery question box or whatever. I loved the cheeky little rabbits and the fact that you could unlock all four of the characters: Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Wario. It just really brought the game to life to me.


So that's my list of my Top 10 Childhood Video games. I appreciate that different people would have different views on what their top childhood games are and please remember that these are my personal choices for personal reasons.