Moments in Between: November

 On Saturday came the first day of Winter. I stepped out the front door, and the sharp icy wind caressed by face like the hand of a long deceased someone. It sent chills down my spine and blew the last few tattered leaves from the spindly trees that stood solemnly in the city streets. I sneezed and pulled my scarf up around my face - remembering what my family always told me about catching a chill. Too late guys, the flu found me already. I walked out into the crisp, wintry world, dodging puddles (left overs from the storm) and reeling off things on my to do list and enjoying the precious moments in the sun.
I mentally prepared myself for a long day at two of my jobs and thought about emails I needed to send, tweaks to extracts from my University work due Tuesday. I sneezed again. Most of my days have been like this.

Without a spare moment to take a day for my own and enjoy it somewhere, I fear of becoming a dull person. Endless work piles up around me, whether it's Uni related, shifts at my jobs or photographs to edit for people and emails to send, I hadn't had a day off since we went to Edinburgh. And before that I hadn't had a day off since I went to London with Alex. Part of me fears this is the adult life now, and this is what I must live with forever more. Constant business. Demands, responsibilities, no time to sit still somewhere and just be. I know it to be the way of the world, but I don't want it to be the way of my world. I treasure my time on earth and place within it. I don't wish for a high powered and intense job in the city, I'd rather have a bumbling and quiet little job home in Cornwall and live a modest life where I can finish my day jobs and spend the evenings eating tea from tuppleware on the beach and writing stories on a public bench by the harbour. Wouldn't we all like such a life? I remind myself that I am here, in Bath, doing the work and Uni thing so that I can go back to my bumbly quiet thing. I shall treasure it more when I do,I shake myself. I tell myself that it's not okay to think this way. I am living now. I am here in this beautiful place. And so I focus on the the moments that help me to enjoy my days and think kindly of November. Here are those moments, the small highlights of my week and the things I am grateful for:

• Song of the Sea - A beautifully crafted, Irish animated feature film about Selkies. George and I watched this the other night while cuddled on the sofa under a duvet. The music is hauntingly stunning and a visual feast.

• Johnny Flynn - I have been listening to his albums; 'A Larum' and 'Been Listening' on repeat this month. I have enjoyed his music for quite a few years now, but sometimes an album or song just comes back to you and gives you the feels. Johnny Flynn is the soundtrack to my November. 
• My Engagement ring arrived in the post 
• One of my best friends, Josiah, came to visit. We met up with Jess, George, Sophie and her man and went to the Bath lantern parade. This ended in the first mulled wine of the season. 
• I may have had a sneaky Patisserie Valerie Chocolate Gateaux
• There was a storm - I simply love stormy weather. It blew a gale all day and all night. The winds rattled the windows of our classrooms and made wailing noises, like anguished ghosts. Sophie and I found ourselves battling across Campus against the strong winds to reach my car. We feared we might blow away, it was so strong. 
• I booked flights to go and visit one of my old friends Clementine in January. She lives in the alps, so George and I are really excited because she's going to take us Skiing/Snowboarding. I'm really excited to see the mountains and go in a ski lift. 
• One of my friends got married, I was honoured to photograph the celebration. It was very emotional. 
• I ate five Milky Way Crispy Rolls on Thursday
• I found my green hat that I had believed lost for a very long time
• I'm re-reading the philosophers stone [edit, I am now re-reading The Edge Chronicles]
• I am engaged to my beloved George-thing 
• My parents, Nan and Dad, always tell me they love me when they hang up the phone. I love them too
• I'm having flying dreams again 
• Scented Yankee Oils 
• Festive themed shopping bags 
• Walking to the canal behind our flat at night to see the stars and moon 
• George's newfound obsession with making homemade smoothies. Instant food in a bottle. 

I have begun my Christmas shopping and already, my bank account is enormously depleted. I'm not even sure what I've bought. I did make the mistake of going into Anthopologie and deciding that there were things in there people needed. Of course they didn't need them. But Anthropologie has this mysterious spell over me, where it makes me buy things that are well above my ordinary budget. I just can't help myself. I wanted to wait till I went home, to photograph my ring and show it to you. Because it is themed on the ocean, it seemed fitting. Alas, it doesn't look as though I'll be making a trip back to Cornwall anytime soon, indeed any time this year. So I settled for my windowsill, where I like to sit and watch the clouds go by. 

This little blue tray - I honestly can't tell you what it's used for. But I have a deep rooted obsession with stars and constellations. When I came across it in Anthro, I impulse bought. I'm not even a Capricorn, but the Cancer constellation just isn't very pretty and neither is it's name. I love being a water sign and feel that the characteristics of Cancerians very accurately describe me but I did that girl thing, where I bought a cute tray for no reason at all and gave it to a very confused George, who is in fact a Capricorn. He liked it though and said it would look nice on the kitchen table. 

I've been listening to a lot of my old music recently - music from my college years. Having the record player in the house is our source of entertainment since we don't have a TV licence. We live somewhat old fashionably, listening to the radio mostly, reading and playing records. 

Having just a small flat, and not really knowing where the next year will take us, I invested in a small £8.50 Christmas tree from Paperchase. George and I can't go home for Christmas this year because of work and the thought of sitting in a bare, unchristmassy, cold flat made me sad so I attempted to cheer it up a little. The truth is, when you're a student, you just can't afford beautifully crafted decorations, elaborate white company lights and real, authentic christmas trees that fill the room and make it smell beautiful. The reality is some cheap lights, mull-your-own-wine sachets and in the case of some of my friends, a beer can decorated christmas tree. With deadlines all over the place and exams stacked up, I know my fellow students are all struggling to get into the Christmas spirit and before we know it, it'll creep up on us. In efforts to keep my chin up and feel some of the festive spirit, I purchased a rather fabulous Peacock who is yet to be named, as a tree topper. At home, we either had plain old stars, or in Nan's case, a rather tarty-looking homemade Angel with a perm. Apparently Peacocks are in this year. That's fine by me, it reminds me of Trago which reminds me of home. (For those that don't know, Trago is a legendary discount homeware & outdoor supplies store in Cornwall and Devon, that has notoriously bad political views and free roaming Peacocks). 

And here is the bit I know my Nan has been waiting for (Hi Nan! *waves*) The picture of my ring. As you probably know, it was I that proposed to George with a ring for him. I was a little unsure about whether or not I'd be getting one at all, but George suggested we ordered one when we got back from Edinburgh. 

After trawling through Etsy, I came across 'Sarah Brown's Jewellery Shop' in Glasgow. She makes beautiful, fairy-esque jewellery that looks although it belongs in a folk tale. Sometimes, I try and try to tell myself that I won't be cringe and fairy-mad, but I fell in love with her jewellery instantly and all ideas of being grown up, classical and sophisticated went out of the window. It was her 'Moonlight ring' that caught my eye. Silver and Laboradite, the stone sits in a clasp of Sea Foam and although it appears grey/clear in dull light, when it catches a glimmer the stone shines a beautiful blue of moonlight and ocean waves. Diamonds and gold do not interest me at all. I am delighted with this ring, because it is the jewellery embodiment of things I love; Laboradite comes from Volcanoes (I love rocks). The Sea foam design is a homage to my darling Ocean. It was made in Scotland where we got engaged by a lady who shares my name. What's more, Laboradite comes from Newfoundland which is where George's family are from. And lastly, it was called the Moonlight ring. A reference to the proposal story that I wrote for George about the Moon and the Sun. 

I'm going to stop boring you all with my stories relating to engagement/wedding stuff for now. Since it's going to be a year and a half before the event, I'm going to put it on the back burner. There are people I care about with their special days coming much sooner, and I wish to focus on them and their happiness. 

Speaking of special days, I've also been kept busy this month with Photographing and editing the photographs from this lovely lady and her bearded man! :) Here are a few little snippets of their day. These were taken in the height of that great storm last week, but luckily the venue was a beautiful, cosy Mill on the river and very sturdy.

This is much different to my usual blog posts, I know. First of all it feels totally bizarre to not have any photographs of my beloved outdoors. But not every day is a great, bold adventure. Some days are quiet, some are quietly busy. Some aren't even spent outdoors at all. It seems unrealistic to give the impression that I'm out everyday climbing trees and battling winds. So this is my life in between. This is my life when it's chaotically quiet. 

But I want to keep up with this online diary, and perhaps expand it and take it to other places. What can I do with a blog, I wonder? ...

I also want to thank you incredible human beans for your kind words of support and love on my last post. I was totally overwhelmed, humbled and warmed by the kindness and love that you offered a complete stranger. That stranger is beyond grateful and values and treasures you all :) I hope that your days are magical and filled with joy and festivity <3