Daily Diaries | Manchester, Ceilidh and Packing

Credit: RNCM freshers photography

Saturday I arrived at my friends house, and we stayed up late gossiping and eating.
Sunday I had the most beautiful American breakfast with 3 of my best pals - I now love love PB&J. I then headed over to my old flatties new house and ordered dominos, watched bad TV and chilled.
Monday was the ceilidh!! So much fun!! I danced the night away, said goodbye to all of my dearest friends and I even felt a little sad that I won't be in college for the next year!
Tuesday I felt a little fragile and had a 5 hour train journey home. When I got home, I curled up and watched an entire disc of Gossip Girl.
Wednesday was the beginning of packing up all my stuff. We then went to a posh new restaurant thats opened near us (this is a big deal cause we don't have many new places opening....especially not posh ones). I had pork rillette, fancy fish fingers and a creme brulee pudding. YUM!
Thursday and Friday: Packing. I am exceptionally bad at packing. I can't do it. So naturally, there have been many raised voices between me and parents. Oh joys....

#DontStopTheMusic

As a musician, I feel that this campaign is so so so important.

If you guys don't know what I'm talking about.... James Rhodes (a classical pianist) is campaigning to get people to donate any instruments they have lying around for the benefit of children in schools that may not have a chance to have a musical education.

Music has always been a part of my life. My father is very musical, and so I grew up with music being a presence in the house. When I was six, I began to play the piano. When I was 7, I picked up the violin. And finally when I was 8 I was given an oboe. I gave up violin for the oboe and stopped piano lessons (because I didn't like my teacher....) but I still play every now and then.

My local music service were very active and gave me the opportunities to have lessons, play in various ensembles and perform on stage. They even gave me a student oboe to learn on.

Music has really been the only constant in my life. It's been there through moving schools and moving house. It's been there for me when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Through learning to play the oboe I have made some of my best friends, met boyfriends along the way, had the most amazing opportunities, and it's all topped off by having unforgettable experiences.

I study the oboe at a music conservatoire now, I have been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, and I received a music scholarship to one of the top schools in Wales. I am now going to study in one of the highest establishments of music in Prague, Czech Republic for a year. These are only a few of the wonderful things that music has allowed me to do with my life.

I can't explain the impact that it has had. Sure, people have picked on me because it's not "cool" to play an instrument (and lets face it, the oboe isn't the coolest instrument out there!!), but I didn't let that bother me. In fact, I took that negativity, and worked extra hard to show those non-supporters what I could do!

As I've said above, it has helped me create memories and make the best of friends, however it also helped me in many other ways:

I grew in confidence, I knew that I was good at something. It is nothing to be ashamed of to allow yourself to say you're good at something.
I became a team player. When you're playing in an orchestra, you learn to work as an orchestra. You learn to listen to those around you, to know when you're the melody and when you're the accompaniment. You learn to hear if you're sharp or flat and now that can affect the whole of the orchestra.
Multi-tasking. If people had any idea how much skill it takes to work in an ensemble, I swear there would be no issue with musical education in the UK. You need to read the music in front of you, while watching the conductor. On top of that you need to listen to what's happening in the music around you, and that's all before you actually play the instrument and think about the notes, the dynamics and the wiggling of your fingers and letting the sound out.
Perseverance. Oh boy, as someone who isn't a fan of hard work, this really was a tricky one for me. But sure enough, 12 years of practice and look where I am! It takes so much time and effort to learn an instrument and to understand the music. It really does pay off, I promise!
Responsibility. You never know responsibility really as a child, and when you're holding £1500 worth of instrument in your hand, you become so protective. It is also your responsibility to make the time and effort to practice and to get better.

I really can go on and on and on about the other benefits I've had (memory, maths, reading, concentration. anxiety reduction, physical stamina, sense of achievement), but I think you get the picture, right?

I have no idea where I would be right now if I wasn't introduced to music. I am very lucky that my home-town had such an active music service, and I am very thankful to them for allowing me to have the opportunities I was given, which has lead to where I am in life right now.

It therefore really distresses me that there are schools and areas that don't have the funding for giving children the chances I had when I was their age. It could give them a future. It could keep a child from a life of drug addiction and abuse. It could keep a child from the streets.

So please, if you have an instruments lying around the house, take them to your local Oxfam where they will be found a home and loved once again.

I can't imagine life without music, so please, let's #DontStopTheMusic.

Romantic Confidence

Credit

My most popular post on here is Romantic Expectations, but after a few things have happened to me that I'm going to share with you, I've realised that sometimes you have to take the future of your love life into your own hands.

As most girls will understand the excruciating pain of liking a guy, but not being sure if they don't like you back, so therefore don't want to risk rejection by telling them.

I have changed a lot this year. I have grown in confidence and I like the person I am (apart from the extra six pounds that appeared over the summer. I don't like them). There is nothing wrong with having the confidence to tell someone how you are feeling.

There's this guy, right, who I get along with. Really, really well. Everyone said that there was something between us. I'd liked him on and off since I'd known him, and even when I didn't like him, I was very attracted to him. So one day, I was in the gym, pumping the iron, and I'd worked myself up to tell him, I told him everything, and he politely said that he didn't feel the same. We are still the bestest of friends and we very much respect each other. It also gave me the freedom to move on and to accept that nothing ever will happen. I'm not sorry about it, I told him the truth and I wasn't particularly sad when he didn't feel the same either. It was more of an inner-peace.
To be honest, I don't think we'd make a great couple anyways.....

ON THE OTHER HAND:

There's this other guy, right, that I had also had a thing for. (I've been single for the most part of a year, don't judge me!!!) I had accepted that nothing was going to happen a long time ago. Still, a girl can dream, right? Anyway, we were at a party together and were chatting and flirting away. I just came out and told him, and he said that he felt the same. Unfortunately as I'm moving to Prague on saturday (aaaaargh) nothing could happen. I am so glad that I told him and he told me, but I know that if I hadn't of said it first, neither of us would have been any of the wiser.

I didn't tell them that I was declaring my undying love to them, if any of you get the wrong idea.... I just told them honestly how I'd been feeling. That I'd liked them for a while. Simple. :)

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you like someone, go for it. It doesn't matter what happens after, but you're doing this for you and no one else. I am a very strong believer in "if it's meant to be" and it will be, but sometimes you just have to take that one leap of faith to take control of your destiny.

Daily Diaries | Days Filled With Nothing

Ok, so my days haven't been completely filled with nothing, but it certainly feels that way. Because my foot has been oh so painful, I can't drive, I can barely walk; which means I can't really leave the house.

I went back to the doctors, who sent me to A & E, only to find out that one doctor is telling me to rest and the other is saying to exercise......which do I do?! Good ol' NHS.

I've been catching up on True Blood and Gossip Girl, watching Breakfast at Tiffany's (I am in love with Audrey Hepburn) and baking some peanut butter and oat cookies.

Although, yesterday, me and my father did end up going to visit my grandmother, and we went for a Toby Carvery. Never had one before, and I had the nut roast. So delicious.

Oh, I've also been reading "Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe" by Jenny Colgan. Seriously, I can't put it down!!

The Book Tag

I saw this post over on The Giggly Blogger and I knew immediately that this was for me. I love reading so so so much and so I'd love to spread the word (excellent pun there.....)

- Do you have a certain place where you read?

My bed. It's the most relaxing place to curl up and read a good story. 

- Bookmark or a random piece of paper?

I'm one of these awful people that fold down the corner of the page. I know, I'm a horrible person. *hangs head in shame* BUT IN MY DEFENCE - I always end up losing a book mark....

- Can you stop reading at any moment or do you have to finish the chapter?

I usually try to finish the chapter, unless I fell asleep or had to stop for some particular reason.

- Do you eat or drink whilst reading?

No. I'm so desperately clumsy that I drop crumbs everywhere/spill anything. Don't want a soggy book now, do we?

- Can you read whilst listening to music/ watching tv?

Nope. I get far too distracted. 

- One book at a time or several at once?

Oh one at a time. I can barely keep up with one, let alone any others. I've tried reading loads, but I'd end up picking a favourite and just reading that one and then I lose my place in the others. Too much hassle. I'll stick to one.

- Reading at home or everywhere?

EVERYWHERE. When I'm in college, I literally take my book everywhere. It's perfect for waiting for practice rooms/on the bus/chillin'.

- Reading out loud or silently in your head?

In my head. 

- Do you skip pages?

No!!!! That really ought to be a crime!!!

- Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

I don't understand people who don't break the spine. I once dated a guy who didn't, and when I borrowed his copy of The Da Vinci Code, I was so scared of breaking it in case he shouted at me and I was terrified of the book. Sorry, but life is too short.

- Do you write in books?

Sometimes. If there's something that's really caught my eye then I'll underline it.

I'm going to tag aaaaall of you. If you enjoy reading/books/whatever then please take a few minutes to finish this! :) 

Harri xxx 

Socialising Antisocially?!

source: Pinterest

It has come to my attention recently, that many people feel the need to be on their phones at the same time as spending time with friends.

Let me give you an example:
A few years ago, I met up with a very close friend of mine for the day. I hadn't seen her for a while, so I was really looking forward to spending the day catching up and having a good gossip. She then spent the entire day texting her boyfriend. I felt really......what's the word...... put out. I had made the effort to put the whole day aside for her, but she couldn't do the same for me. What was the point of her even bothering to see me if she was glued to her phone the entire time?

I can't help but wonder, are phones more important to people than their friends?

I work as a waitress in a little seaside restaurant, in a small village in Pembrokeshire. I have noticed through the many hours I've spent there, that so many families sit in silence while they are all gazing at the little screens, that have taken over our lives. Not only that, but many of these families ask me "do you have wifi here?" Our wifi has a reputation of being a little temperamental, but what surprises me is the look of disappointment on the face of the asker at the thought of having to spend the entire evening speaking to their parents.

I mean, God forbid you have to have an actual conversation face-to-face while you're on a family holiday.

I know I have touched on this subject before, with my Look Up  post a few months back, but for some reason, this subject is very close to my heart, and I do not understand why people feel the need to spend the quality face-to-face time they should be having with one person, glued to the piece of plastic in their hands speaking to another.

If I had a boyfriend, and I was spending the day with people that I loved, I would tell him that and if he doesn't understand that, then frankly, he shouldn't be in my life. I think it's controlling, unhealthy and possibly damaging the relationship to be in a constant conversation for all hours of the day. What left do you have to talk about when you see each other?

Obviously, I do see the benefits of mobile phones and being able to reach someone instantaneously. Emergencies, for example. "Help, can you get this spider out of my room please?!" (A genuine text I have sent....)

Does anyone else agree with me here? Am I the only one?

Daily Diaries | Sun, Sea and Injuries

I began this week by doing an 8 mile hike from Tenby to Manorbier along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. Mother and I are attempting to walk all 812 miles of the Wales coastline.

Tenby

Monday-Thursday was spent on holiday in Malta with my bestest and oldest friend. I'm not going to write too much about this, because it was our holiday and we went to escape the real world, so if you guys don't mind, I'll keep it that way for now. 

However, Valletta is absolutely gorgeous. If you ever find yourself on the little island of Malta, take a day just to wander the picturesque streets of the medieval capital city.

We took the ferry to Gozo for a beach day. It was so windy we basically in the midsts of a sandstorm on the stunning Ramla Bay.

We watched the beautiful sunset from a bus stop at the ferry port. (Not exactly what we had in mind, which made it more memorable!!!)

On the final evening, I managed to injure my foot. I hobbled my way to the airport to go home, when we landed I limped my way onto a train all the way home. I went to the doctors, was sent to the hospital for an X-ray, but luckily nothing is broken. So I'm just limping around the place in a lot of pain. But hey, at least I have something to remember my little break away, right!?

What did you guys do this week? :)