OOTD: Quiet Evenings Watching the Boats go by

Life isn't always about the big moments. I've spent this year learning to make the most about the little moments in between - those precious few hours after work, or before class that normally we ignore and do trivial things we've already forgotten about by the next day. I've been working on filling those 'in-between' moments with things like reading in the park, walks on the river flower hunting, or trips to the forest. I want to fill my life with beautiful quiet moments - saturating it with memory and joy so that I can never look back and say I wasted my youth. It's surprising what you can squeeze in, in those few hours after work, especially in the summer when the days are longer. I've taken to spending my breaks, sitting in the courtyard by the abbey people watching and listening to the Buskers. 

Top: Bershka France | Skirt: FatFace  

Shoes: Second Hand |  Necklace: FatFace 

I'm learning to be more comfortable in my own company and take walks by myself. The other week, when I was back home in Cornwall, I went to the next door seaside village of Coverack by myself. I foraged in the rock pools and collected sea shells, I walked among the boats in the low-tide harbour and watched the seabirds soar around the beach. I even made friends with a lovely lady who knew George's family and we chatted like old friends even though we had only just met that afternoon. 

 Evening walks have become a ritual. Fresh air regenerates my soul in so many ways. I've been having the most bizarre dreams recently- dreams about zombies, anarchy and drinking poisons that split my conscious soul in two. Often I dream that the world has ended. I don't know what this means.
Getting back out into the quiet world reminds me that I can escape my overexcited mind if I want to, and I find therapy in the flowing water.

 I used to think that Autumn was my favourite season - because I love the colours, the seasonal produce and festivals involving sparklers, fireworks and spooky costumes! Yes, autumn is beautiful but it's sad in some ways because it means a long winter is ahead (because winters are long in Britain)  but the summer is full of fresh, long evenings, after-tea dips in the ocean/river and bbq's. I have officially changed my mind - Summer is my new favourite season. Also, Summer clothes.

When the weather warms up, I know I can be barefoot again. Wear floaty skirts, dresses and teeshirts and feel the sun on my arms. I don't like being covered in layers or wearing trousers which is why Winter makes me feel slightly repressed unless I want to freeze my toes. Jess (my housemate and dear, dear friend) were discussing the other day (in a very old lady-like fashion) how we used to wear such short skirts and dresses and how undignifying it was indeed :P We've both noticed that our taste in what is an appropriate skirt length has definitely taken a turn towards the longer side but on the plus side - I can climb on things now and do unladylike adventure things without exposing my bottom to the world! 

To see how high this lock gate was, scroll back up some pictures >.< Jess was having kittens as I tried to climb across and dangle my legs over. Apparently lack of concept of fear and recklessness is a symptom of Dyspraxia. hmm. That would explain my driving?

I finally came to the conclusion today that cheekbones are over rated. I've always had a pudgy face my entire life - my uncle kindly nicknamed me 'Chunks' because of it. You should have seen me as a toddler, I looked like a chipmunk :P But my pudgy cheeks have stayed with me all these years no matter how much weight I've lost or gained. It used to frustrate me that I had blowfish cheeks, but the more me and my friends do our whale impressions (and let's face it, mine are undoubtably the best) I've come to terms with my round, country bumpkin face because I can do one mean puffa fish face :p 

Besides, I'm 90% sure that my cabbage patch cheeks are the reason people still question that I'm over 18, let alone 24 and also I'm working on a mantra where we celebrate our own weird quirks that make us us, whether it's a slightly strange ear, chipmunk cheeks, a funny nose or (in George's case) delightfully large lips. All those attributes make us delightfully us, and beautiful and unique. 

I came across some lovely advice on instagram about learning to appreciate and admire other peoples beauty without questioning our own (I wish I could credit the postee of said quote, but I've forgotten who posted it!). Anyway, Kudos to you and thank you for sharing such great advice. 

Just a few more days left living with my housemates in a shared house and then it'll be off back to Cornwall, home for the summer.
Jess and Mark received the keys to their new flat today and I had a nosey around. We'll have a celebratory meal together this week before all parting ways - it's gonna be a weird, no more boardgames in the kitchen, impromptu chinese nights and running up and down flights of stairs to shriek silly things at each other. Another chapter is ending and so another one begins- for in August George and I will have the keys to our first flat together. This is my last blog post as a flat-sharing student from my attic bedroom in a towering maisonette by the canal in Bath, Somerset.