A Fond Farewell

I'm never quite sure how I feel about New Years. I mean, nothing is really changing is it? We say it's a new year, but that's only because of how some ancient dude decided the calendar should work.
So it seems silly to lament the passing of a brilliant time in my life.
Because it's not really passed.
And I don't really want to get worked up, just because western society loves the new.
A new month, a new week, a new day.

But then again, being the fickle creature I am, perhaps I do want to say goodbye to 2012.
And really give 2013 a nice, clean slate to go from.
Even though the slate was dirty in a good way.

Before anyone thinks "Oh, Morgaine's popped a few to many Cold & Flu pills and gone bonkers." This is genuinely how my head works.
And sometimes it's refreshing to get it the fuck out and onto paper (or a blog, as the case may be).

2012 was quite frankly, a wonderful, exciting, beautiful and inherently positive year.
Now I tend to be very optimistic about these things and look for the good in life, but really, it's been amazing.

I finished my first year of University, passing with flying colours and leaving for my summer at home having met people who I now feel rather happy to count as friends.
I turned 21. Which is actually not a very relevant birthday in this country but still got celebrated in possibly excessive amounts with lovely people by my side on all occasions.
I visited Edinburgh for the first time and lazed about on various benches reading and being one of those very cool loners we all admire so much.
Speaking of reading, I read some great books. But not nearly enough.
I gained a rank and a medal, in that hobby I rarely speak about where I pretend to be a soldier in the English Civil War.
I had adventures in the vast and beautiful countryside of Devon, a place I am very happy I lived in for so long, even though I've decided that for the time being, it is not quite home.
I moved into my first house that wasn't owned by a parent and Worcester became home, for now, although I throw the word about frivolously.
I nearly won two games of Scrabble against my father, who has a fairly perfect record of wins.
I discovered I liked Avocados, and I haven't stopped eating them.

This could go on.
But I'll nip it in the bud.
Because I think you get the picture.

2012 had its sombre moments too. Undoubtedly, for there's always a bit of sorrow.
But as a lady I met in Seattle would say "If you get hurt, rub some dirt on it and carry on."

So, after a full 12 months of delight, it's onwards and hopefully upwards to 2013.
I'd like more phony end of the world things for the internet to make fun of.
I'd like more brilliant times with brilliant people.
I'm going to read more books and watch more films and smile at more strangers (0 fucks given if people think I'm a loon, they're probably right and I definitely don't care!).
Maybe I'll finally become a pirate.
Maybe lots of charming things will happen and hopefully, I shall witness them all.

Farewell 2012, hello 2013.
And really, there's no difference, because I intend to have just as much fun.

2012

Well, first things first: Happy New Year!

As over done and cliched as it sounds i can't believe we're in 2012 already! It seems like just yesterday when it was the millennium and my life revolved around hair brades and watching rugrats...

I celebrated in style last night at one of my favourite pubs ever; The Old Firehouse in Exeter. If you're ever in the area pop in and have some delicious and huge stone baked pizza and a bottle of house wine (that between two would cost you £6.45 each, not bad eh!?!?). It was a vintage themed party so i decided to go all 1940's-y for the occasion, i thought there would be some hardcore fancy dress going on but there was only a handful who were obviously seriously committed :)

TOP:PRIMARK SKIRT:H&M BELT:ACCESSORIZE SHOES:NEW LOOK

I absolutely adore getting dressed up, especially when there's some kind of theme that gives me a reason to wear vintage make-up (not that i need a reason, it's just nice to have one!) I managed to pull this outfit together in a 3 hour rush around town on New Year's Eve, the top was a fiver, the shoes were £7 and i already owned the rest.
It pissed it down with rain as i left so i ended up wearing flat suede loafer type shoes and a fur coat to avoid turning into a big mess.

I got a bit carried away with editing and kept stumbling across effects i liked. I'm a bit of a vintage photo freak so i was trying to make these look like all the old photographs of my grandma i have :)

Back to talking about New Years. I had a lovely time with beautiful people and i've had a really nice, relaxed day today ao 2012 thus far, is filling 2011's big, BIG shoes quite well, but we are only 24 hours in so i'll try not to get to carried away.

I don't do resolutions but i have decided to keep a diary again for the whole of this year and i'm also doing a project365 to try and encourage some more self taught photography techniques!
I hope you all had an amazing NYE and i wish everyone all the luck and love and joy and peace for 2012, i know i'm excited for whatever it is that's next: Let The Good Times Roll!

Two Thousand & Eleven

2010, a year of:
hearing words like "austerity" and "coalition" more and more, making new and amazing friends, trying new things just for shits and giggles, planning my travels, tears, good food, beautiful music, reading brilliant books, behaving like a child, worrying about tax for the first time ever, applying to university, learning that although i want my family to be happy their happiness cannot come at the cost of my own, being afraid, realising that you have to know you're hurt before you can heal, starting my beloved blog, reeling in my shopping habits (i am proud of this), taking more pictures than you can shake a stick at, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, switching to an all new as natural as possible skin and haircare regime and damn it's good, a new found confidence, remembering that as long as i tried my best then that's all that matters, bike rides, rum, mud wrestles, pantomime, being inspired, dedicating more (but still not enough) time to being creative, sunshine, snow and everything in between, living in the moment, a new bedroom and much much much much more.

I make no rules and set no boundaries for 2011.

I have a lot planned; a month in the states, university, London + Blogger Meet, but i want to go with the flow. After 2011 i will be a student and then hopefully a career woman of some sort. This could be my last chance to let go control of my life almost completely and that is an opportunity i am not willing to miss.

I wish every person who reads this all the love and luck and joy in the world for 2011.
Be fearless, break rules, have fun, love, laugh, cry, eat, drink and be merry.
This is your year, your life, your time to shine : )

♥