my holiday reads for summer 2019

There is no doubt about it, summer is the most perfect, delicious, blissful time to read. Whether you are reading late in the evening in your bedroom as the sun sets or spending a carefree afternoon by the beach with a book in your hands, it can be dazzling. With these extra special moments in mind,…

travel diary: how to spend 24 hours in Brussels

To celebrate the end of our A-Levels and satisfy our wanderlust this summer, my best friend and I decided to book a trip to Amsterdam to explore the canals, visit museums and enjoy the famous nightlife. As we were planning our trip a few months before our exams ended, we realised quite quickly that we…

my thoughts on… crudo by olivia laing

This was the first novel that I have read in a long time where I have put down the book and thought 'Wow. It was really really important that I read that.'  I sped through the pages, engrossed in Kathy Acker's world and fully captivated by the intensity of Laing's writing. The tone was just…

dior at the v&a

"In the 21st century, as online access opened up the fashion world and provided a platform for all voices, the question of the line between appropriation and appreciation has called for a more conscious and considered use of influences from different cultures. Maria Grazia Chiuri has spoken of the changing role of a creative director,…

post-exams thoughts

I'm finally back! Exam season is finished and I officially don't go to school anymore. Writing that feels so unfathomable and too good to be true. I still don't think I have fully adjusted to the fact that my a levels are finally over and summer has begun. I wonder how long it will take…

betrayal

A week and a half ago, I was lucky enough to head into town to see ‘Betrayal’ at the Harold Pinter Theatre. The cast was phenomenal: Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Cox and Zawe Ashton (still haven’t got over it.) and the play was utterly brilliant. I haven’t really stopped thinking about it since. The plot covered…

how to learn a foreign language

I'm currently studying for my Chinese Pre-U exams and have picked up some tips and tricks along the way that may be of interest to anyone studying a foreign language. Not only have I understood how repetition is key but the ability to truly immerse yourself in the tradition and culture of the countries where…

travel diary: bordeaux

It is now the Sunday of half term and here in London we have had the most phenomenal weather- it has actually felt as though we've been gifted a magic interlude of summer to cheer us up through the dark depths of what is normally freezing February (and the distress of incoming Brexit, dare I say…

the intimacy of literature

It has been too long! Oh my, I've missed writing on this blog so so much. I've been so busy these past few weeks with schoolwork that I've just not had the time to sit down and write my thoughts on the two wonderful books, 'Three Poems' and 'The Diary of an Ordinary Woman', that…

my favourite podcasts

I have already written about my love for podcasts on this blog, subtly sliding them into other posts when discussing running and self care. I don't ever really stop listening to them and am always plugged in when walking to school, jogging and before I go to sleep. They keep me focused, cheer me up,…