Signs of Spring

I woke up the other day with the sun shining through my window and as my brain began to adjust to actually being awake I realised ... spring's here! With the risk of sounding cheesier than a block of chedder, it really was a beautiful day. Apart from the sun there were many other factors that made me realise that winter is coming to an end...

Temperature:
Not only did I go out without a coat, I actually ended up taking off my chunky Gap cable knit cardi (mens - for the extra snuggkle factor) and yes I had two more layers on underneath but going coat and cardiganless is a big deal for a girl who is cold all the time. In the swealtering heat of Thailand a few summers ago, I was forced to purchase a cardigan, after having a Nikki Grahame style tantrum because I couldn't deal with the air con; the air con that all the other tourists were so thankful for. I like to be warm.

Being in a good mood:
I most definitely have SAD, (seasonal affective disorder). Dragging myself out of bed at any time of day or year is difficult but on a winter morning when i'ts still as dark as it was when you went to sleep it makes me want to cry. On this day however, despite getting up at 8 am after a mere 5 hours sleep and doing house work and uni work I was still in an incredibly good mood. If I had rolled out of bed and pulled back my curtains to be greeted by a dark sky and drizzle I might not be so chirpy about hoovering and PR analysis.

Washing:
Like I said I became a bit of a domestic goddess and got down to some house work: cleaned the living room and kitchen, restoring faith in myself that I could possibly be a 'proper' grown up one day. Anyway I did a tea towel wash, as responsible grown ups do, and when it was done, I hung it outside - yes, OUTSIDE. It turns out I was being a tad optimistic because half 7 pm rolled around and it was still soaking wet. But it's the prospect of even considering hanging clothes outside that excites me!

Daytime Attire:
Ok so at night regardless of wether there's 5 inches of snow, us girls will still totter out in heels of the same height and a skirt of about the same lenght - tights not included. But it's what you wear in the day time that gives an accurate indication of the season. For example I saw a girl today wearing sunglasses, I kid you not, I thought it was a bit premature for sunnies at first, but I can't lie I did get a bit of a squint on from the glare of those Spring rays, I could have done with a bit of eye protection myself. I, myself wore boat shoes for the first time in about 6 months; it was nice to free my feet from boots and although I feel completely disloyal saying this, I am kind of looking forward to retiring my fail safe military boots to the back of the wardrobe for a little while.


Spring Collections:
Springs collections have been infiltrating the high street for a while now, but when you actually consider buying some of it that's when you know that the weather is on it's way up. Of all the Spring/ Summer trends being hyped at the moment, I'm most excited about abusing my credit card with some 70's inspired items. Jumpsuit are going to be huge: there's that Topshop jumpsuit, worn by Nicola Roberts, featured in every self respecting fashion magazine in Britain; to be fair it is gorgeous. Sunglasses need to be either huge or teeny tiny and circular. With all these 70's inspired collections coming out there's lots of silk and chiffon and lot's of volume; from sleeves to trouser legs to hair: big and flowing is the way to go. Maxi dresses and wedges are clearly going to be essentials again this summer and I'm really excited to try out a big floppy hat like these ones ...

Ok so strictly speaking the leopard print one is a cloche, which dates back to the 1920s, still wide brimmed but not as floppy as the floppy hat, but I definitely think it could blend into this summer's 70's scene when teamed with a few of these beauties ...

Kurt Geiger wedges

Topshop circle sunnies

Topshop wide leg trousers

Here's a link to the Topshop Unique S/S 2011 show. They claim the inspiration is 'magical' but I think psychedelic would have been a more appropriate word.

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&categoryId=265004&interstitial=true&intcmpid=W_FEATURE_CH_UK_WK10_UNIQUE

More beautiful 70's influenced pieces ...

New Look heeled loafers

Topshop patterned shirt

Asos 70s sunglasses

Topshop patterned wide leg trousers



Miss Selfridge shirt

Kurt Geiger block heel

River Island block boot

and finally ... this blog wouldn't be complete without the one and only 100% reliable signifier of Spring that seems to have reappeared:

Hope you're as excited for Spring as I am! =)

Creativity blocked by Technicalities

I love to write. I write this blog, regardless of whether anyone reads it or not because it makes me happy, it's a release of my thoughts and opinions and when I click publish post at the bottom of the page, I feel a sense of achievement. But as for a career in writing ... the love of it doesn't seem to be enough anymore. With out portfolios, references, contacts, your CV won't get a second glance. Passion doesn't count for much in the journalism industry - not for beginners anyway. To get my degree I have to write in a range of different styles about a variety of topics, that to be quite honest I don't really care about. And when the emotions are absent, the high marks inevitably disapear as well.

Maybe I'm too selfish to be a 'real' writer. I don't want to analyse my target publication, and conform to a house style to fit in with the relevant demographics of the readership. I don't like checking for errors; I fail to fire up anything other than annoyance about grammar or spelling. And I despise evaluating my own work (obviously if I write something, I will write it in the best way that I feel I can, so what more is there to say?) I just want to write a story/ article/ review the way that feels right as the words come to me.

I'm not naive enough to think that the technical or analytical side of writing isn't important but for me it sometimes kills the passion that my piece could have had ...

For example, I sat down at my desk this afternoon, to write a 400 word review on a book/film/album. Truthly, if I could write exactly how I wanted, 400 words wouldn't begin to cover all the thoughts bouncing around in my head. So I started, but then I stopped abruptly: I hit a wall of restrictions that come with writing for other people. Is this suitable for the publication? How will it affect their readership and tie in to current affairs? Is my puncuation sophisticated enough? And just like that the fun is gone. If I could submit a blog about any topic that grabbed my attention every week, then I am confident that I would never again hand in a piece of work late or under the word count, hoping that the lecturer won't notice. But I can't. Maybe one day, when I have proved myself as an adequate writer, the restrictions will lessen. I guess it's the same with any anything artistic: you have to gain the recognition before you have the freedom to be totally creative.

After all, who am I? A girl who likes to write. That doesn't cut it in the real world. Millions of girls and boys like to write, and probably write a lot better than me. I can't just put 'likes writing' on my CV, I need the degree and the work experience to back it up, to make people take notice. Hopfully one day, when I've gained enough credibility and qualifications, I will sit contentedly at my big beautiful desk, and the words will flow - without the worry of whether or not they are meeting marking criteria.