Last Day Blues

Hello!

So, although I don't finish my exams until mid-June, today was officially my last day of secondary (high) school. [I'm not normally one for self-promotion, but if you guys want to learn more about school life in Wales, here's a little something I wrote for Teenage Blogger Central's 'Senior Year Around The World']

This afternoon, we had a little party, with music and cakes and crisps - and we signed each others' shirts and notebooks, and took loads of pictures, and reminisced about our time together...

So, as you'd probably expect, today has been a really emotional day - a time to say one final 'goodbye' to a place that's been my home for the last 7 years, before I (*fingers crossed*) leave, and start my new life as a university student.
But, days like these are always ones to reflect on past memories - so, although I'm really excited to leave, I also don't want to go!!!

And that's what's made this post so difficult to write - even though it should be a pretty simple thing to sum up. The fact that - although I thought I was - I'm not quite ready to admit that it's almost over. That close to a decade of my life is coming to an end.

That in four months, I'll be a minimum 5-and-a-half-hour train ride away from my best friends.
And I'm really going to miss them.

But I'm also so excited for this new chapter. For a chance to study the course I want to study, and do what I want to do...
To make new friends (but obviously still keep in touch with the old!), to gain new experiences, to kick-start my future...

So although I'm in two minds, I always knew that this part of my life wouldn't be forever. And although it's hard, it's what I need to do.

As someone wrote in my notebook earlier today - "We'll always have our memories. Don't ever forget those memories".

And, as soppy as it seems, I really hope I don't.

xRhiannon

Afterthought: My mum cried more than me when she read the comments people have written in my notebook. It's a happy-sad day for all!!!

How I would feel if I didn't still have 5 exams to sit!
[Source: http://www.quickmeme.com]

Wanderlust

Now is about that time in the year where I suffer from a severe case of wanderlust.
Exams are looming, revision is endless, the sun is out pretty much all the time (a pretty rare occasion here in Wales!). 
And I just want to be out there - exploring, travelling, meeting people, learning new languages, doing new things...

The world is full of endless possibility, and right now (as happy as I am here) I just long to experience it; live it.

Some put it down to stress - saying that the longing to be elsewhere will fade as soon as summer arrives, and school is done forever.
But those who know me are aware that I've always longed to explore. To fill my head with stories and memories; to experience a different culture - a different lifestyle - even if it's only for a short amount of time.

I'm not talking about leading a nomadic existence; I already feel as though I've 'found myself'. 
Greece showed me that you can travel without being a tourist, but also without giving up everything.

And that's what I long to do.

Why does my brain hate me?

Hello!

So, as you guys can probably tell from my recent lack of blog posts, I'm finding it hard to write anything at the moment.

Most of the blame can be put on the fact that the vast majority of my time at the moment is spent revising, and stressing out over my exams.

However, another reason is that as soon as I finally get the time to blog, my brain decides to be anti-social and hate me. Cue writers' block, and a lack of anything interesting happening in my life.
[For example, the most exciting thing that's happened in the last 3 weeks is that my friend hid my other friend's pencil in his hair, so he couldn't write his French essay.
I think you get my point.]

Anyway, I promise to make an actual post soon. On what, I'm not sure, but [cue Arnold Schwarzenegger voice] I'll be back!

Introducing: Burberry Acoustic

So... Burberry...
Amazing clothes at 'I-will-never-be-able-to-afford-you-sob' prices, appearances at all the best fashion shows, beautiful models [note Cara Delivigne, Suki Waterhouse] ...
There's nothing much more this company can deliver, right?

Wrong...

Burberry Acoustic - a platform for up and coming musical talent - is the brainchild of the luxury chain's Christopher Bailey; a strong believer in the close links between the worlds of fashion and music.

Starting with a live performance by Tom Odell at a Burberry catwalk, the project has extended to a series of YouTube videos; all with one mutual aim - to strip music back to its roots.
Each video is filmed in an unique, and often meaningful, location - a bench in London, a garden in Dorset... - and showcases the incredible acoustic talent that Britain has to offer.

With certain videos reaching over 1 million views, it's clear that Burberry are beginning to create a following of a whole new variety, and so far, it's working.

Only a clothes line?
Think again.

A Christmas Gift

The holly and the ivy, when they were both full-grown, of all the trees that were in the woods, the holly bears the crown.

Mr Toad smiled to himself.  Another year was almost upon him, and he knew that, finally, he could forget the somewhat unfortunate series of calamities that he came across throughout the year, and focus on the rest of his life. You see, Mr Toad knew that the rest of his life was destined to be better than anything he’d ever experienced before, and the year ahead was one year closer to this reality.

He knew it.

And he was determined not to falter.

Mr Toad had always been somewhat of a realist, and knew that even though his lifestyle was not one regularly associated with this of his species, he did not care.

He was his own person, and knew it.

And nobody could change that.

“Mr Toad?”

The voice echoed through the reed-filled land; soaking the peacefulness in a river of disruption.

“Mr Toad?”

It came again. Every year, something – or someone – caused him havoc; hassle.

Last year, the tax man; the year before a Time Lord…

He sighed inwardly.  Was there ever time to relax?
Not that he needed to relax; he wasn’t lazy – he wasn’t.  

He didn’t enjoy Christmas; never found the point of it. Too much hassle for his liking.

Mother Toad used to enjoy it, however.  She always made a huge fuss, every year, and told him to stop moaning and enjoy himself. 

“It’s only one day, [she remarked] and then it’s all over for another year.”

 But that one day did not care for the rest of the year.  It was stubborn, was Christmas.  Too stubborn for his liking.

And this strange voice was no different.

Disrupting his peacefulness, just because of Christmas.

 The little girl appeared from the bushes, a smile glistening upon her angelic self. 

  She approached Mr Toad cautiously, yet did not look afraid.

He sighed and questioned:

“What are you doing here, disturbing my afternoon?!”

Her reply:

"I’m here to spread the Christmas spirit to each and all!”

He grumbled.  Christmas again.

He thought of all the selfish humans splurging money on unnecessary gifts and replied, monotonously, a single syllable:
“Humph.”

The little girl's eyes began to fill with tears at this creature’s disgust, and asked, silently, as though not to disturb his negative thoughts – in case they escaped his mind and hurt her:

“Please, kind sir, you don’t believe in the Christmas spirit?”

His reply:

“Christmas?! No. I do not. What made you ask that ridiculous question?”

“I’m sorry, Sir. I did not realise… Please, accept my dearest apologies…”

He paused for a moment, before answering:

"Well, I do accept, but please do not bother me again, you are not welcome here, child.”

“Please, take this gift as an apology…”

The little girl's arms suddenly outstretched, revealing a neatly-wrapped parcel of intriguing shape.

“A gift?! [he exclaimed] Gifts are the curse of Christmas!”

She sobbed.  “But, sir, this is a special gift. Please, accept it?”

He groaned deeply, and with a nod, took the gift from the girl, and unwrapped it; slowly.

There, in his arms, lay the most beautiful thing he had ever set eyes on in his life.

He smiled.

Maybe, just maybe, Christmas wasn’t so bad after all…

 

 

Trying To Act Like I Know What I'm Doing

It is official...
I am an adult.

I have waited so long for this moment to arrive.  To finally be old enough to have a proper bank account, to enter TV competitions, to be taken seriously as a human being...

But, to be honest, I don't really feel any different.

And, actually, (surprisingly), I don't really care.

I thought that I was ready to grow up, become an adult, be independent, but now I realise that I'm still just that naïve lost child who just wants to spend time with her family, and sing along to Disney songs, and just be loved.
And I don't know if I'm ready to lose that part of me just yet.

So, although I can now legally buy alcohol, and count as a supervised person at a swimming pool, I'm not yet all grown up as an 'adult' supposedly should be.

I'm just standing here, trying to act like I know what I'm doing, when really I'm just as clueless as the next guy.  And, honestly, I couldn't care less.

Happy Birthday Teenage Blogger Central! (TBC Blog Party Tag)



1. What made you decide to take up blogging, and what inspires you to write till today?

 I decided to start this blog in 2013 during my HUGELY LONG summer holidays after finishing my GCSEs.  I'd come across a book that I won in a competition when I was younger called '101 Things to do before you're old and boring' and I decided that I'd finally get around to doing some of them! One of them was - obviously - to write a blog so - ta-daah! - the blog was born.

I'm inspired to write by so many other blogs and bloggers, but also by any random happenings in my life that I tend to write/rant/whittle on about in my posts!

2. How did you find and register on TBC? Did you find it helpful and worth recommending to others? 

Even though I didn't register until about October 2013 (on my old URL) and earlier in 2014 (on my current URL), I came across TBC before I'd even properly set up my blog (so, mid-July 2013?)  I was in awe and envy at all the amazing teenage blog talent on the site, and still feel passionately that everyone at TBC have done such an amazing job with the site, and it has helped me so so much with my blogging, so thank you!!!

3. What awesome blogs have you found through TBC? Link them up! 

There are SO many incredible blogs that I've found through TBC, so I apologise for missing anyone out!

1. A Glimpse Of Blue
2. Sempiternal Reader
3. The Fence of Stars
4. Lyn Loves Wolves
5. EPB Art
6. A Teenager's Guide To The Galaxy


4. What do you like best about when you connect with other bloggers your age?  

I find it really nice that my posts are often relevant to other bloggers my age, and vice versa. I think it's probably easier to connect with other teenagers, because our issues and embarrassments are often similar, and it's so nice to find people who share the same interests as you.

5. What do you hope to achieve through your blog?  

Mainly just to inspire people to write regardless of who they are or where they're from.

6. How do you say “Happy Birthday Teenage Blogger Central” in your language? 

Penblwydd Hapus Canolfan Blogio i bobl ifanc!
(Word-by-Word translation: Birthday Happy Centre Blogging for People Young)

So all that's left for me to say is: Penblwydd Hapus Teenage Blogger Central!!!!!