While We Are Young

I know I'm not alone when it comes to struggling through January. It's an incredibly still month and it feels for a moment as if like all the leaves and puddles, time has frozen, holding us here in this frosty limbo of pale skies, bony trees and dead meadows. Everyone tends to get incredibly excited around autumn for hot spiced drinks and jumpers and Christmas but after the come down from celebrations we're left to return to our jobs/studies and endure the coldest month of the year whilst begging for spring to rear its sleepy head. 

Back home, by the sea, I enjoy the quiet months because it means the coastline is peaceful, free from emmets and often stormy.

But we are young, even if the seasons do make us dizzy as they pass us by causing us to feel like we've seen it all. Last night, I lay in bed looking at Georges wonderful face and we talked about being old one day and I wondered how differently we'd look then, on that day, George's twenty one year old face  would just be a memory and so would mine. There will be dozens more winters to come (if I am lucky) and it seemed foolish to waste them wishing for spring. This is now, life is happening. I am twenty three and my existence is spread out before me like a blank map, a path waiting to be explored. 

I may not have a log burner to huddle up next to, I may not be close right now to the crashing waves and howling winds that I love about the cold months and I may not be in a snowy white wonderland. Winter here right now is basic but that doesn't mean it can't be relished. I have two working feet, the world around me and the company of my best friend and so why shouldn't I cherish winter moments? Let time slow down a little and let my head empty itself ready for all the things that will surely fill it when the flowers come back. 

When I finish my degree, I hope to rent a barge for a few months so that I can write and lead a different life for a small while. I could finally be a character in a story, a river girl, a traveler. This barge below reminded us so much of home. Godrevy cove is the name of the beach that George's Step mum's best friend owns and it's also our local. So many summer evening dips with the family, bonfires with friends and snorkeling around the mermaid pool. I love Bath marina even more now. 

Robins are one of my favourite things about the cold months. In my home as a child we would always have a feisty bold one who would casually spend time with us on the patio coming as close as anything. Robins back home are always feisty and bold but this fellow was a little more shy. They have so much personality these charming little fellows. 

This hat was a FatFace summer find and this dress was a pre Christmas ASOS sale bargain at around £10.
George is really getting the hang of my new camera now, his photography is coming on in leaps and bounds. He's often a reluctant model for me so I end up having to be the awkward stand-arounder whilst he has a play with the Nikon. I love taking photographs far more than being in them. One of my biggest project plans this year are merging creative writing with photographs. I've got some plans lined up for stories I've written that I will post as soon as I've done the shoots, also some narrative shoots on the horizon that I shall post in due course as I will be looking for willing models/participants :)

The dress and stockings combo with clunky boots is an old favourite of mine. I don't often wear jeans unless we're hardcore rambling but I love dresses all year round because they're so freeing & comfortable. I also love the 'swooshing' that they do when you do dizzy wizzies :)

The mysterious path through the tunnel 

Sometimes all you need is a wide open space and a breeze to blow the dust out of your ears

I don't have many wise words or top notch tips for getting through January blues-free because we all enjoy different therapies and I don't think I have it entirely sussed myself. I think the small things help though and making each day mean something. Let's not wish away January and forget to live, let's make it as wonderful and magic filled as the rest of the year and eat cake (unless you don't like cake, in which case don't eat cake :P)