If We Were Having Coffee… // Book Updates, Adventures and London Excursions

If we were having coffee is a blogging community idea, where bloggers publish posts about what they’d like to say to their readers if they were sitting down together having a casual cup of coffee. I understand that the original idea was created by Ashley and I found it through Jamie’s blog.

In my mind, we’re sitting in a small cafe, halfway down a busy high street. It’s kitted out like an old 50s diner, black and white flooring, pink neon signs, and a popcorn machine sits next to an old jukebox. Twisting the Night Away by Sam Cook is playing enthusiastically in the background as I order a coffee and a pink milkshake.  What are you waiting for? Make yourself comfortable, grab a beverage, and let’s chat!

I’d tell you that I just got over a horrendous cold, and 3 days later I’ve only gone and gotten another one! I’ve had an extremely busy couple of months and I think it’s my bodies way of saying “hey wait a minute, chill!!” (Subsequently knocking me out for the count.) I also feel like WHO IS THIS PERSON?! I’ve never had so much booked in my diary EVER. Suddenly I’m hopping all over the place and there’s not enough time in the day!!!

Exploring Oxford: A 3 Day Itinerary with Literary Hot Spots!

When we think of travel, we always picture getting on an aeroplane and jet-setting off to a to a country far, far away – but sometimes, you don’t need to travel a large distance to see something wonderful. Sometimes, there’s something great to see closer to home.

Oxford has been one of those towns that has been on my to ‘get to’ list for a few years now. As such an iconic place where famous authors have tread and found their inspiration, and where many films and TV shows have been shot (including Harry Potter!), it seems almost criminal that it’s taken me 24 years to wander down their fancy streets.

As bookworms, I know you’ll appreciate some of the things I got to see more than most, so I just had to share my adventure with you! I’ve also tried to write this in a format that may be helpful if you ever decide to take the trip for yourself!

#WhenImNotReadingBooks: A Day of Culture in London

Hello readers!

In case you can’t tell by the title, I have been off adventuring again.
Despite having spent three years going to a London University, I still find that there is SO MUCH still to discover! Because of this, every time I go to meet my friend who lives in London, she always tries to introduce me to a different area of the city, or we look up any current events that are on and check them out!

Thoughts on Returning to Blogging and My (Hopefully) Epic Comeback!

Hello bloggers! Welcome! Pull up a chair. Can I get you a drink? It’s been so long since we had a proper catch up, after all.

You may be wondering why after a hiatus of almost a year, a couple of book reviews suddenly popped into your inbox within the last month with no warning or explanation. I imagine you must have a lot of questions. I always told myself I would never be one of those bloggers who disappeared without a word, but the truth is I never made a conscious decision to take a break. So, where did I go and why? Let everything be revealedddd!!

If We Were Having Coffee…

If we were having coffee is a blogging community idea, where bloggers publish posts about what they’d like to say to their readers if they were sitting down together having a casual cup of coffee.

In my mind, we’re sitting in a small rustic coffee shop, tucked away down a cobbled street. It has oak tables, vintage cutlery and copper decor with dim lighting, and The Civil Wars are playing in the background.  What are you waiting for? Snug in, grab a beverage, and let’s chat!

~ * ~

I’d say hello lovely bloggers, it’s me, I’m alive! Contrary to popular belief, I haven’t been spirited away to join a secret Wiccan coven, I haven’t disappeared to study dragons in Peru (I wish), nor was I kidnapped by nargles…
I can’t even feign a flu powder disaster to explain my absence (something tells me you wouldn’t believe me).

An Unexpected Adventure: My Trip to A & E

Well, when I said I planned to seek out new experiences for one of my 2016 resolutions, taking my first ever trip to A & E wasn’t realllllllly what I had in mind!

I was just starting to get my blogging mojo back as well, and now I’ve had a months absence again, HMMPH. Anyway, I just wanted to explain why it went quiet, again.

So my tale starts about two weeks ago, on a bright and sunny Monday. I was shopping and experiencing what I thought were cramps, and I didn’t think much of it.

2015 in Review: A Year of Big Changes and Awesome Fantasy Books!

Happy New Years everybody! Pop those corks, pump up the music and hug it out. You’ve made it through another year!

It sounds corny, but I’m so appreciative of everything in my life as 2015 comes to a close.
I feel like my relationships with friends and family have only grown stronger this year, and I feel lucky to have a number of amazing, passionate and loyal people in my life. 2015 has been a big personal year for me and I’ve learnt so much. I’m more sure, centred and confident about who I am, to the point where I really don’t care what anyone else thinks! And I’ve stopped obsessing over the what ifs that used to stop me from taking chances.

We’re Going on an Adventure! My Mini Christmas Road Trip.

Hello, bloggers!
So I know it’s been a little quiet around here lately, but that’s because I’ve been on some ADVENTURES (Bilbo would be proud of me!). I’ve really been trying to make the most of my time off, and even though I’m working part-time now, I’m super lucky because the hours are flexible. Because of this, the boyfriend suggested that we go on a mini Christmas road trip while we had the opportunity to travel, and of course, I jumped at the opportunity! We worked out a plan that allowed us to drive from place to place, and then booked some apartments with the help of Airbnb, and off we went to go and get Christmassy!

On Graduating + Where I’ve Been!

Hello, bloggers! I hope you’re well.
(This is the part where I hope that I’m not talking into a murky abyss of nothingness, as this blog has been somewhat neglected of late.)

So yeah, I disappeared there for a while. It was completely unintentional, but I think, much needed. Ever since I finished university, life has become a bit of a whirlwind, so much has been going on, but all of it good! I have been making it my mission to have as much fun and relaxation time as possible, and to catch up on doing things I didn’t have time to do the past 3 years, and it’s been awesome.

Dissertation Drama: An Ode to the Life of a Student

Full disclosure, this post is going to be a ramble with lots of pictures and gifs!

So, you may have noticed it’s been quite quiet around here lately. Not that I’m worrying about that, it’s life right? But I thought I would do a little catch up on what’s been happening the past few months. To sum it all up in one word?

DISSERTATION.

Yep, that evil monster reared its ugly head. The one that strikes fear into the hearts of students everywhere. The past few months have been a smooshy ball of stress, panic, hope, and then straight back to panic again.

How People React When I Tell Them I’m a Psychology Student.

Having been a psychology student for three years now, I’ve noticed a somewhat amusing and at times frustrating trend to how people react when I tell them what I study. It’s gotten to the point where I can predict people’s responses pretty easily because the same ones pop up over and over again! The funny thing is, people’s immediate thoughts usually involve some kind of a common misconception about psychology, and other times they’re just down right ridiculous! After a recent stint of these reactions recently, I felt it was about time I vented my frustrations. It normally starts something like this:

This is by far the most popular response and oh how it gets old quickly. Yes, psychology is about the study of human behaviours, but that does not mean I have a roadmap to the inside of your head! Plus, just because I study psychology, doesn’t mean I always have my psychology hat on, a girl needs a break you know! It’s not like I’m analysing everything you do. If you tell me that you don’t like cheese, I’m not silently contemplating whether you had a traumatic cheese incident in your childhood.

Completing Final Year Semester 1 (Like a Boss) + Christmassy Things!

Hello blogity friends! As you can probably tell, university has been keeping me very busy of late, which has become evident by my lack of presence on the blogosphere! Imagine my horror when I logged in and realised I hadn’t blogged in over a month, WHOOPSIE! *Edges sideways.* This semester has been one fun, crazy, stressful, and brilliant ride, and I can only hope the second semester will be just as good. It’s been a lot of hard work assignment-wise, especially as each piece is so weighty to the overall grade but ultimately everything has run pretty smoothly. The results I’ve been receiving have far exceeded my expectations, and this week I officially received ethical approval for my dissertation (aka, permission to experiment on people, mwuhuhuhuuuuuu!). 

Alien Life Forms and an Excess of Pasta + Mini Book Haul

Hello all!
I feel like it’s about time I did another one of these random life update posts. A few weeks ago I packed up all my stuff AGAIN and headed back to the student world for my final year of university. Can you say scary? The fact that this is my final year is really messing with my head. What I do in the next 9 months will count towards two thirds of my degree. It’s where the real work starts. EEEP. Right now everything feels a little bizarre because it’s like the calm before the storm, I know all of these deadlines are looming but the impact is yet to hit. At the moment it seems like I’m having too much fun! I know it can’t last and the stress factor will soon kick in but for now all is good in Becky world. I’m feeling oddly hopeful about my final year. Even though it will probably be mind numbing and intense I’m ready to face the challenge (no doubt this entire train of thought will reverse within a month, you wait and see :P). 

Thoughts On The Isle of Wight Festival!

Hello bloggers! Some of you may have noticed my lack of internet presence for the past week or so, and some of you may have had far more interesting things to do and therefore not noticed at all. Either way this absence occurred because a friend and I decided to go on a mini adventure!

Way back in April, we both applied for voluntary work at the Isle of Wight Festival on a work for your ticket basis. As poor students we couldn’t exactly afford a ticket, so this was a great way of still getting the festival experience without the cost and with the bonus of something extra to pad out our CVs. We were both offered positions as back bar staff and then thought little more about it. But before we knew it summer arrived and we found ourselves packing our bags and taking the ferry over to the island. 

Freedom from the Institution that is University, Huzzar!

I’m Freeeeeeeeee!!! *Waves Hands Energetically.*

I felt like it was about time I did another one of these update rambly post thingies. As of last week I handed in the last of my coursework, grumbled and complained through torturous exams (in my head of course, or I would have been disqualified) and packed up the last of my things and headed for home. My second year of university is officially over and I can for the most part, breathe a sigh of relief! At least until I get my results or start having to think about my dissertation (gulp).
I’m currently in denial.
To say work has been full on the last few months would be an understatement, but as a reward I now have a long, hopefully hot summer of reading and home comforts ahead. Woohoo! Most importantly, my cat will no longer have to make complex, life changing decisions without me like whether to go for the fish or chicken chunks in jelly.
I know, she will be so relieved.