It got me!

I’ve been fighting off bugs and cold (and winning) since before christmas. I can’t remember the last time I was physically sick, well apart from occasional alcohol related incidents. So surprise, surprise when I finally caught the sickness bug I’d been avoiding.  You can probably guess that I am not impressed. After spending all night in the hell that is 24 hour bugs I then spent the day feeling awful, which meant missing uni. Not cool. I’m a total geek, I love uni and absolutely hate missing something I wanted to study because I’m sick, whether that be physically or mentally.

So this is just a post to let you know I’m alive but feeling absolutely awful!

Relaxing with Rubey.

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I know for a fact that I’ve worked really hard this week, possibly a little at the extent of my health but I don’t regret it. After practicing 3 evenings, working one, going to uni, playing an AMAZING gig in central London and finally getting back all the sleep I missed yesterday, I wanted to do something today. Funnily enough my idea of relaxation had four legs and is almost double my height.

It’s no secret that since starting riding in October I’ve fallen in love with it, as well as the horses at the stable. For me it’s just a way of letting off steam, focusing on something else and learning. As soon as I walk in the stables I feel myself relax, no matter if I’m on a low mood or just having a stressful day. I’ve become one of those people I never used to understand!

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Getting kisses from Rubey 

I’ve been talking with Rubey’s owner since just before christmas, when I left her a note to say that her horse was lovely and I’d gladly help out. I finally got around to it today, realising that I needed to do something that relaxed me, even if it was hard work. Sapphire (Rubey’s owner) is a total sweetheart and really helpful, we spent today giving the horses hay, sweeping the yard and giving Rubey a groom which was the fun I needed to just relax.

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Although I didn’t ride today, helping out and hanging around the stables gave me an even bigger mood boost than waking up happy this morning did. I also realised I’m more confident, I’m starting to work out which horses do what, who I like to ride etc. I’m also lucky enough to be able to help out with a horse I adore and it seems she likes me back after some of the cuddles I got today. So once I’m a confident enough rider I can help out more and actually exercise her.

Hopefully this is a sign of a good week to come 🙂

No People Club play Central London!!!

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Outside while loading in

I’ve always loved London, even when I was little, tonight I got to play in one of the greatest cities in the entire world! We’ve been planning this gig in Piccadilly Circus for ages now, hence all the practicing this week and songwriting to try and get just one more finished in time, but we did it! We played, we got the crowd going and a lot of people wearing No People Club stickers, yippie.

It’s times like these where despite being exhausted after a full week and some crappy lows that I want to get on the road and get paid. I love my academics too but this was just something else. Thanks to some of our great friends and family we also reached our target number of people attending, although I don’t think I’ll ever live down my ‘stage dancing’ with my friends!

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A sneak peak of the unedited pictures that Sophie took! 

It really was an amazing experience, we even got some amazing photos out of it from Sophie Jones (Dan’s girlfriend), she’s a very talented photographer and I can’t wait for you guys to see the finished shots.

Although I definitely crashed when we got home (and I mean really crashed, 13 hours of sleep to be exact), I’d do it again…hopefully soon.

Thank you to everyone who came tonight, No People Club are on the up! 😀

Manic, manic, manic

I’ve realised that I’ve been writing every 2 days instead of every day…whoops. It’s been manic, I’ve been in practice every night, I was off uni head sick on Monday, seeing lecturers Tuesday, Horse Riding and work yesterday (although that post will be uploaded) and then uni and practice again today.

Right not I’m barely getting enough sleep and food let alone having time to solidly write…apart from the other night went I found some old novel pieces and got VERY excited. I’m exhausted and not looking after myself too well…yes, yes I know it’s naughty of me!

This happens once in a while it’s all go,go,go! I have, however, planned nothing at the weekend so I’m hoping to catch up with some rest and make sure I can get rid of my bad mood that keeps trying to creep back in.

It’s definitely a case of trying to maintain balance as a girlfriend, a friend, a band member, a student, a Student Ambassador and trying to keep in touch with my family. I think all students feel a little bit more stressed this semester, we know we need to work hard and there’s only 2 months and 2 weeks until we finish lectures for second year…gulp.

So either way I want to be more organised with this blog, if I know I’m going to be busy maybe plan ahead and write lots more to do list.

Right now I’m off to Nando’s and then booking a trip to Prague! Speak later! 🙂

Trying to be ‘perfect’

We all want to be ‘perfect’, come on you know that in some way you do whether that be career, family, image or anything like that. I’ve been back at uni for two weeks and the familiar anxieties have started to creep in, am I doing enough? Am I going to get a good degree? Will I be able to get onto MA? Will I be able to get a job? Theses are things a lot of students think about a lot of the time, but sometimes that doesn’t make it any easier.

I’ve been musing over what to write for the past two days when I received a notification that Hannah Gale had just written a post about trying to be the best, in the low mood I was in I was curious. I started to read and I couldn’t stop, Hannah had just put it all in perspective for me. Although I’ve never met her I just wanted to hug her and go YES SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS HOW I FEEL! I’m constantly putting pressure on myself to best the best, to try and be just a little bit perfect, but that doesn’t work for me.

I always put pressure on myself to do well, I don’t know where it comes from because I’ve never had those kinds of pushy parents. My Mum’s words for me were ‘do what makes you happy, if you’re happy I’m happy’ and so I chose everything I have today, she never forced me to do anything despite visiting Kingston endless times with me so I could be sure she just wanted me to be happy. None of my family have been academics and it’s fair to say that by year 11 no one thought I was going to be an academic, maybe that’s what spurred me on, being the kid who people thought would get no where.

So I work on and on and on. Everyone tells me to take a break but I just have such high standards for myself, all the time. I don’t regret it but I’m learning to love myself a bit more which for me means not being so hard on myself. Not getting angry when I have a low or don’t do as well as I planned or have to stay in bed because I’m sick. After pushing myself for years and being that kind of person it’s hard but step by step I’m getting there. I’m planning trips around Europe, writing again and honestly trying to get through the hurdles as best I can.

One day I’ll let go of ‘perfect’ and 100% appreciate happy for what it is.

Art will win.

Once when I was younger I was given the advice ‘If you want to change the world become a lawyer’, although they were trying to protect me the stubborn little teenager I was became more determined. The advice wasn’t bad per say but it wasn’t me. I looked at becoming a lawyer but it just wouldn’t stick, I couldn’t stop my pen writing and my voice singing what I felt passionate about.

Since the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices I’ve been thinking a lot and listening to any news story that I could, hoping the hostages at least would make it out alive. Like the Sydney siege, Boston Marathon Bombing, 7/7 and 9/11, this was done to put fear into us, unlike those attacks this was one trying to silence humor and freedom of speech. I’m friends with a lot of artists who felt a little shaken that day, but as well as ever they have responded. The internet is filled with drawings and responses to the attack, with intelligence, wit and humor.

You’ll notice that until this point I have not used the word Islamic Terror, and I don’t want to start. Why, you ask? Because these terrible acts of violence do not define every Muslim in the world, just as the Westboro Baptist Church doesn’t represent all Christians and the Nazi’s didn’t represent everyone in Germany. I am grateful to have friends from all religions, and although I myself am an Atheist, they have all respected that.

Those terrorist had a warped idea of what the world should be, they also thought they could silence us. How wrong have they been. These attacks, if anything, have united not only the French people, whom I offer my condolences to, but also the artistic community. Artists have reacted brandishing their best weapon, pens, pencils etc. Writes have come out in force with the message ‘ you will not destroy us’ and the people have agreed with this.

The thing is that after these kinds of horrors happen, we are a little fearful and a little more cautious. We need to remember that those feelings are perfectly human, but it is when we start to act differently due to fear that they have got what they wanted, I for one will not  be a person to let that happen. And so as the newspapers this morning report on the worry that London will be next, I won’t stop going. I’ll carry on travelling into central and going about my day, as many others will.

We cannot bring back those who have been murdered, but we can remember and honor them and those recently lost in Sydney and the ones all over the world who have been lost to terror. So we won’t forget them, we will carry on drawing, writing, remembering and support those they have left behind as much as we can because just stopping would be an insult to their memory more than anything.

Last night.

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Sometimes all you need is your friends. I’d had a hellish afternoon yesterday. Stuck for 2 hours on a journey that should have only taken me half an hour, then also stuck on a bus before getting home nearly 3 hours since I left Guilford.

It’s really easy when I’m tired and get some news that I didn’t particularly want it was close to spiralling. The difference is that I had something to look forward too, Eleanor made sure of that. I had so much fun out drinking (probably more than I should have), dancing and laughing. It instantly cheered me up.

After nearly falling asleep in the bathroom I decided to come home, getting a kebab too. And then I fell asleep waking up to the hangover from hell…after 4 I finally got up and dressed.

I wanted to give you a really interesting blog tonight but honestly all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed and sleep, or eat McDonalds.

I’ll leave you with that and hopefully then I’ll be able to think of something more creative for tomorrow!

10 Short Girl Problems.

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I have been vertically challenged as long as I remember, just remember people you are not alone!

1. People think you are a lot younger than you are.

I didn’t start wearing make up until recently, meaning that people instantly thought I was much younger. Most embarrassing point? Hearing some guys, who obviously were younger than me, telling their friend he shouldn’t hit on me because ‘I’m about 12 or 13’…this happened a few months ago.

2. Getting given kids meals at restaurants

I’ll say it again HEIGHT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE YOUNG/OLD. I’m 20 years old and I still get handed a kids menu at meals much to the delight of my family.

3. You have to learn how to climb

Kitchens and bedrooms always have spaces that are too high. So you learn how to climb on just about everything, boxes, kitchen sides you name it we try it.

4. You have to ask people to reach things all the time

Unfortunately you can’t climb in shops so you have to ask people and then, if you don’t like it awkwardly put it back in an odd place meaning everyone knows it was you.

5. Your friends like using you as something to lean on

You know, the whole using you as an arm rest because you’re the perfect size…yawn.

6. People always assume you’re ‘cute’.

Say that ONE MORE TIME.

7. You have to walk a lot faster to catch up with your friends…little legs! 

Running alongside your friends in heels to keep up, not a great look or comfortable.

8. The sun visor in your car doesn’t make a difference because you’re short…you also have to pull the seat right forward. 

Driving is definitely a comical experience.

9. Your feet not touching the floor 

Forever five years old and tip toes.

10. Awkward boob hugs

Hugging your friends, their boobs, your face…always.

Working on it, thoughts, plans and blogging

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Yay for motivational slightly girly looking quotes! I thought a lot today about what I wanted my blog to be. I’m not a girly blogger or really interested in fashion, to be fair if I posted what I was wearing every day you would all get pretty bored I think…other than the awesome T-Shirts (oh Primark you are so good to me). I don’t know where exactly I fit in the blogging world after all this blog is a year and a half old now, so shouldn’t I know?

I had today off and realised I wrote nothing yesterday, then panicked a little. So I went to town bought some new notebooks and a few books…opps. I wanted to feel like I was doing something rather than looking at my laptop. So I started thinking am I writing what you guys want to read? Will I ever get a huge following? Am I interesting at all?!? Let’s face it, we all want to know that what we’re writing is actually being read. Then I stopped myself, I blog for me mainly and I’m starting to figure out what you guys like too. You all love lists apparently, which is fine with me because I’m a little obsessed with them.

So I decided I would write today, although I didn’t know what on. I wanted to write about Leelah Alcorn, something I am working on, but I need to find the right words which haven’t happened yet. I also told myself to stop freaking out because I missed one day. So I started googling things to make me think or just quotes I liked and I found this one, about doing things.

It’s kind of what I’m doing step by step, take last night for example. Last night was the first night I had spent completely alone since halls last year and I was ok. I was a little lonely going to sleep because I like cuddles but I was pretty good. I read for a long time, got some cleaning done, saw my friend Joe. So instead of thinking I can’t stay in this flat alone I changed it to a can, and I’m bloody ecstatic about it. As for the dreams into plans thing, I’m working on that I’m focused on my future, my band, my well being and a project I’m working on.

Basically I’m working on it.

Note: This image was found online and I do not own the rights.