Dear readers,

I am very sorry that I have not posted in about 5 months. I have just re read my last blog post which was written before my driving test about nerves (which I past!). It got me thinking about how I have missed just typing and sharing my views on anything I want. Unfortunately, the IB and revision have some how got in the way of pursuing this interest more, but I promise that as soon as these exams are over, blogging will become part of life once again. I have so many plans!

So, in the past five months a lot has happened but the major one has been university. I firmed by place at university to study International Relations. This is a huge step in life and something that I had never really dreamed of happening, not that I thought I wouldn't go but because I never thought time would keep going and i would grow up. Over the past month and since turning 18 (again after the last post!), I have realised that I have not thought about my life after this point. I have never questioned what life is like after the security blanket of school and parents and home-cooked food - I just thought it existed and took it for granted which I now regret. But, when you start to apply for accommodation at university, you realise that this part of your life is over, and it literally is an end of an era. Do not get me wrong,  I am not an emotional person who clings onto the past, I think a change is good, but  have realised that a big change and moving environment is a little different in my head. Therefore, I have sort of been having that 'I am getting old and I don't want too' phase.

However, the point of this blog post was to say hi and I am coming back to blog about things I want to talk about. I am sure that the whole transition of moving from home to another place, getting results, a look back at my school career and other things that I have got on my list will start to happen, just you wait!

Anyway, thank you for reading as always. I will be back soon!

Much love,

Harriet

Nerves

Currently, I am meant to be doing some English homework for tomorrow, but instead I decided to write a blog post as I haven't in more than a month. As you can probably tell from the title, this post is going to be about nerves. I don't really understand the chemical process involved, but the basic non-science-y definition is that they suggest fear (you can tell I’m in an English frame of mind when I start using the word suggest.)

But, everyone knows that feeling, where butterflies are floating around in your stomach and you can't get rid of them until you have faced the fear or the task at hand. So, that is what you have to do, face the task. There is no point running away from it because it will just create more fear and even guilt, which are two emotions that aren't really the best to experience at the best of times. Hence, this is my advice to you; face the fear to get rid of the nerves.

The reason why I am writing this blog post is that I am currently experiencing that feeling of terror the night before my driving test. There are constant questions going through my head and I'm making myself more and more nervous by the minute. Therefore, I thought it was a good idea to write these feelings down. 

A situation like this should make you stop and take a step back. Firstly, what are the consequences? I bet I can guess most of them:

-         The fear of failure.

 This is only natural but reference to earlier post.

-         The fear of letting someone down.

Well, if they care for you they should forgive you and know that you tried you're absolute best. If not, let them cool for a little while.

-         Financial costs.

This is quite relevant for my driving test. If I fail, I will have to pay out more money. Therefore, it’s better to focus on this after the event and not before.

-         The attention.

When you fail at something and people know about it, it can be the worst feeling. However, if you surround yourself with the right people they will support you no matter what and help you get through it.

However, it must be remembered that none of the consequences include an unfortunate death, just a little perspective.

Therefore, when you worry about something, try to think rationally. It's no good making something bigger than it actually is. Irrational thinking is no good anywhere in life. So, to conclude this rather scatter-y blog post; stop worrying and being nervous, it is part of life.

Much love,

Harriet

Sunshine on Leith – A Review

Well, I didn’t think I would be ever doing one of these but it turns out I am now sitting down and writing one; a review! In the past half an hour, I have just got back from the cinema after watching a film with the family to celebrate half term (and also because my mother had vouchers!) and I just had the urge to write about how blooming amazing this film was!

Sunshine on Leith is a film set in the town of Edinburgh in Scotland and tells the story of how two boys who have just left the army coming back to re-integrate into the society. However, the story is mainly based around love and the ups of downs of long lasting love, new love and young love and how it works out in reality. The film starts with Ally and Davy in Afghanistan just before a road side bomb hits them. They both survive but decide to leave the army. This is when we get to see the close family relationships that are present when they return to their hometown together and all the ups and downs of love, which is what the film is predominantly based upon.

Normally, I am not the type of person to like romantic comedies, however this is actually a musical based on the songs of the Proclaimers. I don’t blame you if you don’t have any idea who they are but I think you would know: ‘I would walk 500 hundred miles, and I would walk 500 more’ and it has lots of ‘dadadada’ phrases in it. Yes, the son called 500 miles that is sung with a very distinct Scottish accent (Watch here: http://youtu.be/tM0sTNtWDiI) . Even though that was the only song I actually knew, all the other songs are pretty good – very upbeat which is something you need in life and the singing wasn’t half bad either!

My favourite part of this film was the fact that all the characters just started singing in the middle of sentences. I know people will disagree with me but it offered a sense of light hearted relief as well as another dimension to the drama due to all the emotions that can be expressed in song.

So, if you want to be cheered up and you are near a cinema, my suggestion this half term is to go and see this film because it definitely will put a smile on your face!

Here is the imdb link to the ‘Sunshine on Leith’ if you want to find out more: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2481198/

The youtube link for the trailer which is excellent:
http://youtu.be/74WEwUnmH-Y

Much love,

Harriet

xxx

Just Life.

This post is dedicated to all the lovely people that have recently started following my blog! This added motivation has suddenly made me start to write a blog post which I haven't done in awhile on a Saturday night when I could be watching TV or sleeping. However, I felt that this would probably be the best use of my time at the moment and I have forgotten what it feels like to type anything you want to say, rather than trying to answer a vague question for an essay. It feels good!

Anyway, so what has been happening in my life? Well, since returning from a dreadful Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition a few nights before, I returned to school, which wasn't one of the things that I would have like to be doing (for your information, I would have liked to be sleeping for days on end until my body had fully recovered from mental and physical damage - this is what Gold D of E feels like). After an 8 week summer playing with horses, swimming, tennis and family, I had no time for doing serious IB work that was on my list of things that preferably needed to be done before term starts, and preferable before my wonderful trip to Wales (D of E - so not wonderful in the slightest unless you count the free ice cream at the end). Well, as you may have guessed, work wasn't at the top of my priority list, so after returning back from mountains and sheep poo, I managed to do some but not all.

However, after returning to school at the beginning of September, I soon returned to my routine of constant work followed my interruptions of food, sleep and chatting withe IB lot which had been lost with the loss of structure to my days with the rigid school timetable). But, I have to admit, returning to school wasn't actually as bad as I thought. However, I have now realised that this is my last year in obligatory education, meaning that university or life will be next outside of this little bubble of free hot chocolate, sarcastic but hilarious teachers and amazing friends. Soon, I will have to face the world by myself without this security blanket, which truly terrifies me.

It hasn't helped with all the stress of applying to university as well as finishing off the ever lasting Extended Essay (16 pages and 4000 words later) that is the bain of any IB students life - which I did tonight (Yippee!). However, this month full of work and stress which has lead to pure exhaustion has put a lot of perspective on life. If I can get though this year scotch free (with a limited amount of mental breakdowns), then I will be pretty well set up for life with the attitude of wanting to get things done and not waste any moment of having time off.

Therefore, I leave you with this thought: how will you make the most of life. I also would like to dedicate this post to all the people that have been going through a difficult stage in their lives - we will damn well get through this and live to see the other side!

Much love,

Harriet

xxx

Peace One Day 2013

June Favourites

Hola peeps!

How is everyone enjoying the British summer! It is delicious and very rare!

Today, I thought I would attempt to write my Favourites blog post because I do actually have a lot to talk about!

1. 8 Tracks

http://8tracks.com/

So firstly, I am going to start with an app called 8 tracks. Now, this app is amazing if you just want to listen to music without having to keep finding songs you want to listen to on YouTube. It is basically a collection of playlists with lots of different genres made by users. There are so many different types - ones for studying, working out and ones for relaxing! It has really helped me concentrate when I have had lots of work to be getting on with!

2. The Great Gatsby

http://tinyurl.com/oq83qvq

Now, I had to read this book as part of my English course and be ready to have a speaking assessment, answering questions about it. Unfortunately, I got King Lear instead of this amazing book! It is quite rare for me to actually like a book, let alone still enjoy it after months and months of analysing it, writing essays on it as well as presentations! As it was written in the 1920s, it brings little things that we relish and treasure and want to develop and read into. After the film was released in May, I have seen it twice - one with my family and another as part of an English trip! It isn't usual for a film to tell a classic without changing it and ruining it. But the Baz Luhrmann one does. Therefore, it comes highly recommended! Also the soundtrack is amazing - another thing that you can listen to on 8 tracks.

3. Putting cookies in the microwave

Why haven't more people done this? It is an amazing thing to do as cookies come out all warm and squidgy with melted chocolate! They are also amazing with ice cream! So the next time you have a cookie, put it in the microwave!

4. Twitter

Normally, I was what people would call a 'twitter stalker', i.e. I wouldn't post anything but instead re tweet, favourite and read everyone else's tweets. However, in the month of June. I have become one of those people who will fill up your twitter feed! It has become so addictive, which is probably a bad thing but I do feel a lot more connected to people which is a good thing!

5. The White Queen

http://tinyurl.com/qgr2hf9

If you don't know what the white queen is, I suggest you go and watch it. It is a miniseries that has been released by the BBC this summer! It is fabulous! It tells the story of the relationship between Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, who latter becomes Queen of England. It is amazing thing to watch on a Sunday night, and I am afraid I have become extremely addicted to it! So addicted that I downloaded the book for the kindle and read it in less than 3 days - that was also amazing too! Philippa Gregory is an amazing writer, telling the story of the War of the Roses. So, if you are interested in medieval history, romance, women’s perspective or even politics and the way people react - you will enjoy this book!

Also, the guy that plays Edward IV, Max Irons is pretty hot as well!

If you have read to the end of this, I have a huge favour to ask! I would be eternally grateful to anyone willing to complete this survey for my Maths IA! Thank you so much!! 
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2M8VCSP

Much love!

Harriet,

xxx

30 Day Snap #30

I'm sorry this is so late guys, but this picture is entitled: 'The first Pimms of the summer'. basically, I had Pimms and it looked so pretty I decided to make it my final snap! I am very aware that this is late, but I have been rather busy this week with lots of deadlines, but I would like to thank Sprinkle of Glitter for coming up with an amazing idea to encourage us more to share our lives. I have really enjoyed doing it, and through the years, I hope I come back and visit the memory's that I have left for myself of what I did in the month of June!

Much love,

Harriet

xxx