Or rather, being distracted by the realm of real life. Part of this distraction was being here . . .
for Arcade Fire (at Edinburgh Castle).
It was an awesome concert . . . even though I was
very, very, cold!
I promise to try and get back into the swing of blogging. I have a busy Autumn coming up, so here's hoping for some organisation and inspiration.
xo
p.s. thanks Jess for your photo's of the night of awesomeness that was :)
I had some visitors this week. Steph and Isa are two people who are special to me in a way that will last a lifetime. About 4 years ago I came to Leeds Uni (in England) on exchange and house shared with an amazing group of girls and Steph and Isa are two of them. Steph is from Canada and Isa is from Germany and as a thank you for letting them spend the night they gave me some food. But not just any food, sweet sweet good food - Maple Sugar Candies from Canada and a variety of German chocolates.
Now, the Maple Sugar candies did no last long enough for me to get a photograph. To eat Maple Sugar candy is like opening up a packet of brown sugar and just pouring it down your throat (once you start you cannot stop). The German chocolates, however, have lasted a little longer, but are no less yummy than the candies. Here's the proof -
(see those yogurette chocolates, oh my, I am addicted, lol).
It was so amazing to see these girls again, I think I'll have to make a trip to Germany and Canada in the very near future!!
p.s. the other week I had this bowl
of amazingly delicious berries, yum yum yum (as yummy as the chocolates above).
xo
. . . well, we are not entering the TARDIS (Geekazoid alert!!!!), but I am taking you back to what I was doing two weeks ago. You see, I am the Paralympic Sports Ambassador for CBM - The Overseas Disability Charity, and as part of this role I attend sports events and pimp the Charity as well as enjoy myself immensely watching some amazing sport.
How did I get this role you may ask? Well, I (in another life, or so it seems) used to be a swimmer, and as a swimmer I managed to train hard enough and long enough to make it to TWO Paralympic Games (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) AND I actually did quite well in both, coming away with a bronze medal in Atlanta and a bronze and silver in Sydney. Now, as an old person (well, not very old, lol - I am in my early thirties), I go and talk to people about my experiences, as a Paralympian and as a person with a physical disability. One of the places I went and spoke at was CBM in Cambridge, UK, and that is how I got my role as their sports ambassador. Pretty cool, huh?
Well, in my role as sports ambassador I got to attend the BT Paralympic World Cup that was held in Manchester, UK, two weeks ago. I got to enjoy the wheelchair basketball, athletics, and swimming. It was a lot of fun (and intriguing to see what times the swimmers were doing - not to compare my old times to them or anything . . . :).
So here are some photo's of the action -
(haha, me illustrating my new found enthusiasm for wheelchair basketball!!)
(ahhhh how I missed the smell of chlorine and the humidity and heat of the pool, lol)
It was a great week and I highly encourage any readers to apply for tickets for the Paralympics, cause trust me it is as exciting and fun as the Olympics (I do know from experience!!).
xo
I have been neglecting this blog the past few days (including missing out on Friday Favourites), but for a very good reason . . . here is the proof!!
Yes, I have been in Scotland and completely fell in love, a warm, passionate, lusty love, so much so that I am in talks with my flatmate to move there. I am in love with a country and am anxious to return. Anyone else been to Scotland? Anyone else been to a place that has completely captured their heart?
Now that I am back in Leeds, I have been working today on my etsy shop. I have two new listings up today . . .
and
xo
. . . or not. Only Burns would write a poem about haggis, don't you think? But it seems an appropriate subject heading as I am heading off to Scotland today for a few days and will be going further north in the British Isles than I have ever gone before. You see, I am going to visit this ol' girl -
(image from Paranormal About)
I am very excited for this trip; I have only been as far north as Stirling before, so to be going to Loch Ness and Inverness, this trip should be a right old adventure.
I am taking my camera and laptop, so I am hoping to keep in touch with you all via my blog and post lots of beautiful photo's . . .
See you in Scotland :)
I have been a little absent these past few days due to a guest in the flat. As part of being a good hostess, we have been to see some sights (well, except today, I am not to well at the moment, bleugh), and the first of these sights was Harewood House . . .
(oops, flatmates legs!)
(this is my favourite photo, the colours are just so beautiful. Do you reckon that nature just gets colour so right? I do)
Harewood House was Pemberley in Lost in Austen, so everytime I go there I like to pretend that I am Elizabeth Bennet just exploring her new home with her sexy new husband (haha) . . . I know, I am geeky, but it's fun! Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book ever, so any chance to pretend to be Elizabeth Bennet, well, I am sure you get the picture.
xo
I have had a slightly mixed up week (or to be honest past few months). I do love being a research student, I love learning and finding new connections between ideas and writing about these ideas and processing them in a practical way . . . but I also love just creating and being free to create what I want to and enjoy that process. Ho hum, I know I could focus on both, but then there never seems to be enough time in the day. At the moment I am going to try and balance finishing my thesis and re-opening my etsy shop and using the etsy shop as a fun go to when the thesis gets me down. We'll see how it goes . . . If worse comes to worse I am seriously thinking of running away and living in a monastery, the thought of living a simple, peaceful life is so appealing a lot of the time. What has inspired these musings? Yesterday, after speaking at the Carlton/Faceby Primary School in the North Yorkshire Moors, (the kids were so gorgeous), me and my flatmate drove through the Moors and visited the Rievaulx Abbey in the little village of of Rievaulx (pronounced: Ree-vogh, I think, lol). The Abbey ruins were so beautiful and walking through them on my own was slightly eerie, soulful, and awe inspiring. Check out my photo's below -
I have also been poking about on etsy today to find some inspiration for my new little felt brooches that I am making for my own shop. I came across some beautiful things, but these earrings were my favourite -
(courtesy of Lila Ruby King
xo
Over the weekend I went to Madrid with my flatmate and discovered the wonders of a city that I believe is very under-rated (in relationship to other Spanish cities, such as Barcelona). Madrid was wonderful, and whilst there I got to visit some very special artworks - Picasso's "Guernica," and Goya's "The Third of May, 1808" and "Saturn Devouring his Son." The Museo Reina Sofia and the Prado were amazing galleries to visit. I really want to go back and explore some more, but here are some photo's from the past few days -
xo
Thought I would let you in on some work from my sketchbook. I had to scan them in today to get some good quality images for entry into a group exhibition, with the theme - "Patterned."
While I've been trying to get my work done today (in preparation for going to Madrid later this week . . . squeeeee, Madrid, I can't wait!!), I have been reminded of my love of the Beach Boys via a Zooey Deschanel interview (cause of course she loves them too). I was very influenced in my love of music by my parents . . . and for this I am truly, eternally grateful. I have a tender love for most music from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's, and with the Beach Boys being one of my Dad's favourite bands, I loved and still love them to pieces. So what is my current Beach Boys playlist -
1. Good Vibrations
2. California Girls
3. I get Around
4.Wouldn't it be Nice
5. Don't Worry Baby
6. Surfer Girl
and
my absolute favourite BB song
7. God Only Knows
xo
An artist/Craftster who is being highly distracted from completing her PhD by stitching and sewing and the wonders of Europe . . .
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