Life.

An event happened last night, which really made me think of my life, and reminded me of my own mortality. I was on a train, on a twenty minute journey to see a very close friend of mine. It was heading to Barnsley, two station stop at around 8pm. It was a last minute decision, but I thought I'd be daring and spontaneous. After the first stop, we still chugged along down the track, but then the train jolted and we stopped. A few moments later, the conductor came out from the back of the train and ran to the front. There was a man at the front getting angry shouting, saying he has to go home because he's been at work since 7am and complaining at how mediocre the train service was. The conductor then appeared again after a while, and explained that the train had run someone over on the line and they had unfortunately died. The entire train just shut up, including the complaining man. It was the strangest moment I've had in a long time. I suddenly thought of everything, how easily things in your life can change, dramatically. I fall apart at the tiniest of problems and I shouldn't. After knowing that, it was awful. We just had to sit on the train for an hour, knowing someone had just died due to our transport. And what if it had gone wrong? We could have derailed, or crashed. It could have been so much worse. I kept thinking of the situation too. What if they chose that? What if it was an accident? Or a game played by someone naive? It reminded me how lucky I am to be here, and how I need to realise I'm a good and grateful person. I will never forget last night. And I'd like to say, to the individual who was affected, Rest In Peace. 

Kitchen.

The kitchen will be my pride and joy. Old fashioned sink, arga and a big wooden table right in the middle for family roast dinners on Sundays. I also want a very large vintage clock on the wall, with herbs growing in the window box and fresh flowers in a vase on the table. I'd love for pots and pans to be hanging from the ceiling and baking paraphernalia scattered about. It will always smell like freshly baked bread and I will be in it, cooking home made meals with a flowery apron on every day. 

Bathroom.

The bathroom will be more Parisian, with bright colourful, old style wall pictures and a huge tub that could fit two people. The floors will be old and weathered, but the walls white. Small finishing touches will make it cosy and light. 

Bedroom.

The bedroom will be white, with a large metal bed in the centre. There will be an old white dresser, lamps and chests full of linen at the end of the bed. Floral patterns are a must have and there needs to be a big window, to let the morning sunshine in!

Living Room.

As you step inside, the living room will be warm and inviting, with an old antique fireplace and big cushioned sofas surrounding it. It will have rugs and soft furnishings everywhere, with small vintage subtleties such as flower decorated plates, teapots and knitting baskets.

Dream House.

The one thing I dream of more than anything else is the family home I want to have, after the successful career and hopefully, beautiful wedding! I find the English countryside completely enchanting and I would love to own my very own country cottage, with a thatched roof and old farm cart wheels in the garden. Trellis's full of flowers and vines and a small garden path leading up to my front door. Then you step inside....

Labyrinth.

Worm: 'Ello.

Sarah: Did you say hello?

Worm: No. I said 'ello. But that's close enough.

Sarah: You're a worm aren't you?

Worm: Yeah. S'right.

Sarah: You don't by any chance know the way through this labyrinth?

Worm: Who me? Nah, I'm just a worm. Come inside and meet the missus.

Sarah: No thank you. 

Worm: Things aren't always what they seem in this place.

 You can't take anything for granted. Come inside and have a cup of tea. 

Sarah walks through wall, only to find it's an entrance to another part of the Labyrinth.

Worm: Hang on!
Sarah: Thank you. That was incredibly helpful.

Worm: Don't go that way! Never go that way.

Sarah: Oh, thanks. Turns around and walks off.

Worm: C'orr. If she'd have kept on going down that way, she'd have gone straight to that castle.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Lady Beekman: I've come for the tiara you stole from me, young lady.

Lorelei: That's my tiara! Piggy gave it to me, I swear. I won't give it back!

Lady Beekman: You'll find I mean business! 

Dorothy: Oh, really? Then why are you wearing that hat?

Laughter.

Laughter is something I can't imagine my life without. It holds so many memories and helps express so much happiness, when all you're really doing is making a sound which hurts your ribs. When I meet new people, the thing that makes me connect to them more is whether or not I can laugh with them. I love humour, especially when it's over the tiny things in life. I'm not one to laugh at others, unless they really are silly. I've even chosen to study and learn how to perform comedy at university, because it truly does interest me. Those people who are seen as naturally funny are a gift to civilisation. They are there to bring a cloud of light into an otherwise, gloomy world. There's nothing quite like watching it. Laughter, to me is something you can use to lift yourself up again. Whenever I feel rubbish about myself, I watch a film I love. Or ring a friend and giggle in the pub. Or read a book to find those laugh out loud moments. That's the beauty of it. It can form a friendship, eliminate sadness and give yourself that little boost, so you know that it'll all get easier. 

White Chicks.

Lisa: Hi I'm Cellulite Sally; look at my huge ba-donkey.

Don't forget about me, I'm Backfat Betty. 

Now who could have said that? 

Oh yeah, it's Tina the Talking Tummy. 

Bursts into tears

 I can't even wear a short skirt and a top without looking like a fat pig. 

Kevin: What about this one? It goes with your skin tone. 

Lisa: Are you kidding?! Somebody throw Shamu back in the ocean. Whoo!

Sheffield.

And this is the wonderful city I now call home. My adopted home. It's where my life lies, as well as somewhere I feel safe and loyal to. It is so in contact with it's history and old routes. Everywhere you look is the steel, the industry that made the city so famous. Water flows from fountains outside the station, through the centre to the heart of the city. Two botanical gardens, theatres surrounded by lights and modern architecture are present everywhere. I've never been to a city that I've loved as much as Sheffield. It has an old quaint appeal to it, with vintage stores and unique little shops dotted about on streets, but it also has the perfect balance of modern. Everything is bigger, but not generic. Even the big chain places have their own charm. This will be my home for, at least, the next three years. As a student, I think it's perfect. It's the place I can see myself changing with, turning into the person I want to be. And I can't wait to get there. 

Scarborough.

Two years ago, I hated this town and everyone in it. I felt trapped in an endless routine and realised I could never be the kind of person I wanted to be if I stayed. I just wanted to get out, as soon as possible. So I applied for University. No one in particular actually, just five cities I wanted to be a part of. It turns out it was the best thing I did, because I found my course, auditioned and one year ago, found out I'd be moving. Now I've lived away from home almost 8 months and believe it or not, I miss my home town. Not many people can say they spent every summer of their childhood on the beach, or looked from South Cliff at night time, seeing the amusements illuminated and the harbour calm and peaceful. And my house, my old ex council house where I've lived all my life, which I love tremendously. I can see why so many people come and spend their summer there, it's a beautiful town. And yes, some parts of it aren't the greatest. But if I can survive, so can anyone else. I'm living proof you don't have to accept what you're given to start your life. I'm from a council estate, from a normal family with a normal life, but I'm a daydreamer and I wanted more. Scarborough is the kind of town which lightens up and becomes so serene in Summer. And I miss it. I know that every summer I live away from it, I will always go back. Because it wasn't the town that drove me away, it was the people and the bad experiences I had there. Moving here has made me proud of where I'm from and my roots. Because I now know I'm lucky to have that view every time I walk down to the beach.

Wizard of Oz.

Glinda: Those slippers will take you home in two seconds.

Dorothy: Oh! Toto too?

Glinda: Toto too. Whenever you wish.

Dorothy: Oh that's so wonderful to be true.

Glinda: Now, close your eyes and tap your heels together three times. 

And think to yourself, "There's no place like home."

Dorothy: There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

There's no place like home.

Guitar.

Since coming to University, I thought I'd take the time to do some of the things on my bucket list. I've watched so many films I've always wanted to see and starred in a student film. But one of the biggest things was to learn an instrument. After a nice little surprise money bundle, I bought this little lovely, my very own Encore Classical Acoustic guitar. Junior size, because I have tiny arms, or at least that's my excuse. I learnt a few chords and felt super happy, but then I got stuck. Learning off YouTube hits a bit of a brick wall after a while. Today, I thought I'd take matters into my own hands and try to learn a new song. And so, five hours later, I'd say I'm quite good at playing 'Hurt' by Nine Inch Nails. It doesn't do the original justice one tiny bit, but has definitely restored my own musical faith. I guess I'm not as bad as I thought. My goal now is to learn 'Unchained Melody' in time for my Mama's birthday as I'm poor and can't afford materialistic gifts. Challenge well and truly accepted.

Grown Up.

And one more thing, if I grow up to be anywhere near as funny as her, I'd be very happy within myself. Just as long as I'm not as crazy. My mum is unique in many areas. She doesn't hoover the carpet, but sweeps it with a yard brush, insisting it's better than a hoover. But that's because she likes to get old broken ones from her friends instead of buying a new one. And she texts me to say what the cats are doing. "Hiya darl u ok. Guinness is sat on ma bed bless him lol." Okay mum, thanks for that, I feel better now. Also, she puts beans in Shepards Pie. And never drives on motorways. And always loves it when someones buys her slippers at Christmas. But I adore her little quirks. My mama is one of a kind and I wouldn't change her for the absolute world. Even if she looks like a duck when I ask her to smile in photos!

Mother.

The most inspirational person in my life is by far, my mother. Out of every one I know, she's the only one who takes all the negative things in her life and turns them around, shrugging them off. When I was growing up, my mum would always say I was worthy of being someone truly great. She'd come to my parents evenings at school and cry at how good my grades were. When I got 13 GCSE's at the end of it, even though she couldn't say them right, (she used to call them CBCE's!) she was so proud. And when I split from my first boyfriend, my mum was the only person to give me real advice and help me through it all. When you're a kid you think that any tiny problem is the biggest thing in the world, but my mum kept me grounded. She would always say I was better than what I thought. She'd tell me to do what she did, keep your head high and pity those who put you down. And when she got ill, I completely crumbled, but it was her humour that helped me cope better. She beat it on her own and showed everyone how strong she truly is. She gave back just as much sarcasm as we gave her too. You can never win with my mum around! And now I live away, every day I miss her. But when I come home and she says how much she boasts about me to her friends, I realise how proud she is. And that makes it all worth while. I absolutely love her. My wonderful mummy.

Happy Mother's Day!

Irish.

As a country, Ireland is significant to my family, not because of my heritage. More because my Mama and Papa seem fascinated with the culture, the history and the music behind it. Back home, my house is full of memorabilia, from limerick ridden tea towels on the wall to a Celtic drum and Molly Malone with her wheelbarrow on my windowsill. My house is even painted green and cream, mostly due to Papa's insistence, although I must admit it does look nice. And so, this is for them. Ideal to hold their Irish Breakfast Tea.

Happy St Patrick's Day! 

Grace.

"When I married Prine Rainier, I married the man and not what he represented or what he was. I fell in love with him without giving a thought to anything else." 

Tiny Tea Drinker.

One of the hardest things about making something better of yourself is those you leave behind. Like the one you bonded with instantly and spent your last education free summer with, drinking endless cups of tea, dancing like  crazy and laughing till your cheeks hurt. The one who you can tell anything in the world to without the risk of judgement, or ring up when you're bored to talk about anything and everything. The one whose talents make you jealous and whose endless aims to become something better is obvious. The one who texts you about which planets you can see in the sky that night, or quotes from the show you both watch together. The one I now rarely see, because we're 75 miles apart. The one who I miss every single day, and even though I'm sometimes rubbish at communication, still try my hardest with. I don't want to slip and fall as a friend, and as hard as it is, when the time comes that I return back to the same town, she's right there. She's beautiful and kind, and I'm lucky to know her. Codie Leigh Rylatt, you will always be a blessing to me.

Love.

Mathilda: Leon, I think I'm kinda falling in love with you. 

Leon chokes on his glass of milk

Mathilda: It's the first time for me, you know? 

Leon: How do you know it's love if you've never been in love before? 

Mathilda: 'Cause I feel it. 

Leon: Where? 

Mathilda: In my stomach. It's all warm. 
I always had a knot there and now... it's gone. 

Leon: Mathilda, I'm glad you don't have a stomach ache any more. 
I don't think it means anything.

Knowledge.

At this very moment, I already notice changes in my intelligence. I don't mean I'm slowly turning into a toffee nosed rocket scientist nor am I now the greatest mathematician to grace this century, but sitting in a seminar today, I realised that I am completely and totally in love with where I am.

I did it by myself, ignored my misjudgements and pushed to better myself. And now I'm here, extremely proud to be learning how to perfect the one skill I think I am truly good at. My ego isn't huge, but I don't think I'm lacking in confidence either. I actually think it's more about determination. I want to become someone my entire family can be proud of. And I can honestly say, that I love every minute of the essay writing, academic reading lists and four hour long lectures.

It's true. I am a nerd. But my goal for these next three years is to achieve what I know I can, and push myself. This could however, change entirely, when I finish my two thousand word essay at the weekend.

But that's two days away yet.

Tea For Two.

Everyone has that certain friend you'd happily share your teapot with. Lucky for me, I have many. Some are back in my home town, some are right here in my home city. Some have known me since I was born, whilst others are fresh new additions. Time is no bother to me though. I like to believe that once you're my friend, it's for life. Because there is one thing I've learnt growing up and moving away, there is nothing you can cherish more than friendship.

In the beginning.

Here it is, my first blog.

The intention of which is to show the world the little things in life which I love.

It will be varied, random, sometimes obscure but always positive.

No stories of heartbreak on here.

I just want to make people smile, even for a minute or two.

Tiny Dot.