365: Day 134

Me and the big sis…I love her very much!

365: Day 119

On Saturday night, we went for a family meal to celebrate my Dad’s birthday. With my camera glued to my hand, I tried to snap a few pictures of the little details, and this was one of my favourites. A rush of sugar is one of my favourite highs. Happy Birthday to my Dad!

365: Day 118

Yesterday was a busy day; and it ended in a night wherein I attended two social events! The first was a social meet-up, for D/deaf and hearing people, that is a casual and informal way to practice sign-language and meet new people. For us (the big sis and I), it is partly to keep up with our signing skills, partly to help and support learners of BSL, and partly because, well, it’s fun and we get to meet and socialise with new people. Always a good thing, especially when it involves the use of sign-language, as opposed to trying to lipread new people. Then, afterwards, I headed on out for a birthday celebration…a handful of Instagram photographs will be coming soon… I hope you all had a great Friday!

The Important Things.

What is important in life? It may be different for most of us, but there will likely be similarities; companionship, health, happiness, amongst a few. Over the weekend, I spent some time with close friends of Merritt Butrick; whilst he passed away in 1989, I could still feel the sense of pain they felt in the fact that he is not here anymore. They had tender memories and recollections to share. Merritt is still here, he goes with them wherever they go.

It made me think about my own friendships, about how much I cherish them and appreciate them. The people in my life are very special, and over time, I’d like to share them with you via Stars and Rainbows, either through photographs, antidotes, or through guest blog posts. The ones who are still with me today are the ones who are likely to stick with me through all the highs and lows in life; we have weathered the storms thus far, and have learnt how to dance in the rain, rather than complain. I love that.

After going through my own personal storm last year, I have come through it with positivity, and I would much rather acknowledge all the little things in life, all the things that are important, with a positive mind, than focus on the things that have gone wrong that day, or be too sceptical and pessimistic to value the good things in life. Whilst it is hard, at times, to keep a smile on your face, if you simply change the way you think, you can bring sunshine back into your life. And, if not sunshine, then at least you can learn to dance (and sing) in the rain, because, let me tell you, that is just as fun.

I have a wonderful friend, who has been with me since I was around 15 or 16, and I think over the years, we have learnt a lot from one another. We listen. We share. We give our experiences, in the hope that it will help the other. Coffee dates are aplenty. This friend sent me her answers to the questions I posted a little while back, and I thought it would be nice to share them with you all. From her answers, you can get a sense of what is important to her.

1. What is the one thing that makes you happiest, each day?
Hearing the words “I love you”

2. What is your biggest dream?
It sounds really Stepford wife-y but my dream is to have a beautiful house where the door is always open to family and friends, children and a husband who loves me.

3. If you could meet your 16-year-old self, what advice would you give to her/him?
To listen to others advice but not take it as gospel. Follow your heart sometimes and do what you feel is right not what others tell you is right. Also that you are perfect the way you are and that someday soon others will love you for it.

4. What is your most prized possession?
My camp blanket. It has my whole guiding history on it and is the thing that I would save in a fire.

5. What did school teach you?
I loved school which is probably why I want to teach. I think it probably taught me too many things to list here but no doubt I will look back on my own schooling a lot when it comes to teaching.

6. What has life, thus far, taught you?
Everything happens for a reason, even the really shit things. Just hang on in there and your luck will change.

7. How would you describe your style?
I would love to say I have one but I fear I do not. I wish I had the courage to wear the clothes I love everyday but I don’t yet know if I have the gutso to pull them off down the aisles of Tesco.

8. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
I love reading magazines and blogs are like magazines but they just get updated far more regularly.

9. What is your favourite meal? Describe it, in a way that will make the reader want it.
My favourite meal would be a Moroccan banquet on a rooftop in Marrakech. I would be able to feel the sun on my back and hear the hustle and bustle of the djemaa el fna square interspersed with the call to prayer. I would drink freshly squeezed orange juice and eat warm bread with dip and salad whilst waiting for my tagina to arrive onto the table in a cloud of smoke. The warm aroma of the cumin and other spices would hit you as you served the deep brown tagina onto the pale yellow couscous. I would finish with sickly sweet baklava and other sweets whilst the sun set over the Koutoubia Mosque.

10. Imagine you are off on an adventure, and you need to pack a bag of food. What will your picnic consist of?
A hybrid of afternoon tea and Greek meze. Lots of dips and olives followed by cake galore!

11. What is the one thing that you wish everyone could understand?
That everyone is different and that it’s OK. I also wish people would be freer to say “I don’t know a lot about that subject please tell me more about it” rather than talk with authority about things they have no idea about because they are afraid to seem silly.

I hold these answers close to my heart, because it is a glimpse into the lovely mind of my friend. We might not talk as often as we’d like, but when we do, it all slots into place, and we can spill the news that we have been excitedly waiting to tell. Each of my friendships are different, but no less important than each other, they are equal. Why? Because each of my friends add something different to my life, something unique. The friend above, she gives me calm and clarity, a sense of direction if I ever feel slightly off-track, and lots and lots of giggles. She gives me a different life to hear about, to learn about. That’s important, in life, to learn about others, to hear stories from other lives, that teach you that really, we’re all intersected. Our lives touch others, in some way or another, big or small. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way; but we can learn from it all.

For me, I feel like life is one big journey, made up of lots of adventures and lessons to learn. It’s a chance to grow. A chance to explore. I am 22, and I am only just starting to discover what it is that I want to do in life, yet, it’s still slightly unclear. This is okay. Whilst a year or two ago, I felt extremely on edge and uneasy about the fact that I didn’t know what I wanted to do, today it is okay. I feel relaxed. I am starting to do what I love, and love what I do. It involves working with children, it involves performing, it involves writing, and it involves taking lots and lots of photographs. Some day soon, I am sure, I’ll be able to describe what I do. I’ll be able to give my “work” a name, a description. But for now? I am still having fun trying to find that description.

What is important? To me? Love; family, friends, the boy, the love you can share with strangers, simply by smiling at them. Creativity; through photography, baking, crafting, performing. Exploring; travelling, learning, discovering new things. The most important things to me are the little things in life; I believe that all the little things add up to make the big picture. Each day, I try to find and appreciate the little things, whether that be a cup of tea, a text from a friend, or spending some time with our cat, every little thing is important.

If you want, feel free to answer the questions above; your answers will probably give us a peek into your life and the way you think. Sharing is becoming something great. If you answer on your blog, leave a comment below, or leave your answers in the comments.

The whole time I have been writing this, it has been tipping buckets of rain down outside, but now the sunshine is trying to break through the clouds; I love Spring weather like this, it resembles life. I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday, remember to let sunshine into your life.

A photograph from last summer, when I was learning to let the sunshine back into my life.

365: Day 99

There were 99 bottles, sitting on the wall… No, no, no… There were 99 Easter eggs… Actually, no, there wasn’t, it’s just silly old me having a little fun, because I’ve reached 99 days! Anyway, no, it was just the one Easter egg, and I’m very happy with just the one. It came from my beloved Granny, and she is ever so lovely. I hope you have all had a good Easter, if you celebrate it, or, if you’re like me, I hope you just enjoyed the chocolate…yuuum… Have a great Monday!

365: Day 97

Cake, oh, cake. The big sis made the Cookies and Cream ones, which are in the middle, and I made the Egg Nests. They all went down a treat, on Friday. Here’s hoping that you’ve all been having a good weekend, full of chocolate, I hope!

365: Day 96

Oh, look, back in Starbucks! With my trusted notebooks. Coffee. Brownie. My sister. Although, surprisingly, we were let down by this branch of Starbucks; despite asking for a Vanilla Latte, with ONE shot of coffee, what I received was an unsweetened, strong latte, from the taste of it. Not impressed. I filled it up with more milk, and lashings of sugar. Tut tut. Not sure if we’ll be returning to this branch again any time soon…which is a shame, as it’s the most local one to us! Oh well. Time to perfect my home lattes, me thinks.

Springing.

10 Things I Love

Last week’s post is coming today, but it is a celebration of the weekend that has just passed. I hope you enjoy the photographs as much as I do.

Time in a beautiful place…

This weekend, I am in Norfolk. Currently, I am sat by myself, on a beautiful, sandy beach, enjoying the moment. “10 Things I Love” might be a little late this week; if I get a chance, I’ll do it over the weekend, or it might have to wait until I’m home on Sunday night. Wherever you are, I hope you have a lovely weekend; I am sure that I will.