The house that broke my heart.

The picture above depicts a seemingly normal, five bedroom house in Sheffield that quite by happenstance was stumbled upon by five young ladies looking for somewhere to live.
A year down the line and this no different to any other house has broken my heart, this isn't just a house it is the home I share with 4 of my best friends. It is where Amarni and I wake up at 8 o'clock after a big night out and sing at the top of our voices much to everyone's despair. It is where I have laughed until my stomach is sore, eaten until my stomach is sore and drank until my stomach is sore. This here house is my home.
The realisation hit me today thanks to one Amarni Wood, that nothing is ever going to be the same anymore. After 15 years of education and direction, all that is in front of me know is a black whole of uncertainty, and I do not like it, no sir I do not.
I am not ready to say goodbye, I am not ready to leave Sheffield, I'm not ready to not be around the people that make me smile the most 24/7.
It's hard to be sad, when you have such incredible stories and memories of my time here, but it is hard not to be sad at the same time. Leaving behind a life that I have sculpted out for myself is so hard, I feel like Benedict Cumberbatch has just broken up with me. The end of a beautiful, tumultuous relationship, I want to hang on for dear life to it, until my nails are raw but I can't and I'm finding hard to accept that.

25 Khartoum Road,
You were the first house I lived in with my pals, you were beautiful if not very messy the majority of the time. It was great and I'll never forget you.

The future

With the dawn of 2013 here, my life as I've known it will be coming to an end. In 4 months I will have finished University and I will be in the big, bad world with not a clue as to what to do. Actually strictly speaking that isn't true, as I am going travelling for 6 months with two of my best friends around Thailand, Australia and America. But an excruciating year, of saving and completely cutting back on meals, drinks out and clothes, which essentially what I live for. But it will be worth it, seeing tonnes of amazing things and sharing it with two of the people I love the most, is ridiculously exciting.
Lets backtrack to this whole finishing University; Am I scared? I am absolutely petrified. Education is all I have ever known, and being one of the large percentage of people who doesn't have a clue with what to do with the rest of my life, I'm feeling pretty crummy about it. Although no assignments, research and reading books the size of an elephant will actually be quite a nice change. For me University is the place to go, when you don't have a clue what to do, obviously unless you're doing medicine or law or a subject like that, you go to University for the social side and much as the education. So I thought I will go to Uni, I will move away from home and become independent and that is exactly what I have done. I have made incredible, life long friends and I have had some of the best moments of my life over the past three years. But I still don't know what to do with the rest of my life. So travelling was my option, I have always wanted to go travelling. Experiencing different cultures, meeting new people has always been something that has appealed to me greatly. I am hoping my 6 month trip will give me some insight into the things I want to achieve and who I want to be and what I want to do.
So there is 50% of me that is utterly petrified about not knowing what or where I am going with my life, but the other 50% is excited and completely up for the challenge. I think it is okay if you don't know what to do, people go through years and years of their life thinking they know what want, then down the line they realise it isn't what they want any more. So you know, I am not going to worry, I'm going to take life as it comes and I am going to enjoy it. That is the crux of life surely, to enjoy it, else somewhere down the line you will just have a list of 'I wish I would have's' and you won't be able to do anything about it.

Outfits

I have a few pieces of clothing that I have recently become obsessed with, so I thought I'd share my favourite pieces with you. I apologise for my awful posing, but I am just not very good at having photos taken, so I think it is best if I pull a face, or have a picture whilst 'dancing' (if you can call it that) like a maniac.

Basic turquoise tank top, perfect for both the day and night teamed with a pair of skinny jeans.

Everyone seems obsessed with military, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and buy a camo tee. Adding a little collared shirt underneath, adds an extra little 'something' to the outfit. Also those noodles were not up to par, very disappointed.

These are my favourite trousers in the entire world, again perfect for daytime or night. Add a plain well cut top and heels, for the perfect going out ensemble. Or wear with a shirt and a snug jumper in the day. 

I absolutely adore my velvet pinafore/dungarees, add a shirt or a tee. They are so comfortable, I tend to roll around and pretend I am a baby, I have no idea why but it is so fun.

You cannot go wrong with shorts, and shorts with a nice detail will go a long way. They are quite smart, but add a plain tee and you're set.

Review... Foals

Let me set the scene... Think a misty Wednesday evening in Sheffield, groups of young hip things and the odd OAP congregating outside a social club; in the side room a group of Sheffield locals, drinking pints and gin and tonics whilst playing a game of backgammon or darts etc. In the main room the young hip things drink cans of red stripes and wait in anticipation. Instruments lay waiting on the stage against a backdrop of nativity-esque hangings (by that I mean shiny/glittery streamer like curtains). Scene set right this is the night that Foals are playing in Sheffield. Intimate gigs are always the best I think, seeing your favourite band, in a small venue just makes you feel so much closer to the band. The support act petite-noir, seem to keep the crowd occupied whilst waiting for Foals. The band visually looks quite cool, a mix-match of the typical indie/hipster guys are great. They have a good sound, which I think just needs a little fine tuning and I could see them being a break through band of late 2013 perhaps. After Petite-Noir finish playing, there is quite a heavy transition, we wait for what seems like an age, and I am getting antsy to see the band. At half 9, the music dims again and Foals are here, all the waiting and annoyance completely dissipates as soon as Foals begin playing. Throughout the entire gig, the band are just filled with energy, the exuberance that front-man Yannis Philippakis exudes is just highly infectious; I dare anyone to go to a Foals gig and not dance or sing at the top of your voice, no matter how cool you want to seem it is an impossible feat to not let yourself go! I think a band that can make the crowd 'shhhh' when they play Spanish Sahara but then start a mosh pit when they play Two Steps, Twice and Inhaler just has to be absolutely incredible. I have spent my life going to gigs, and I can honestly say hand on heart, that, that was one of the best gigs I have ever been to. They played all their most famous songs minus Cassius which was highly anticipated by the crowd and I think would have been incredibly received. Luckily for me they played one of their new songs My Number, which they recently performed on Jools Holland; the set list was definitely well thought out. Foals are such an established band now, they have sold out The Albert Hall and they have a hefty fan base, most of which have been with them since 2008, but when their new album is out, I feel they are going to have a huge in-flux of new fans. Foals are back, bigger and better than ever before.

Well they say being a third year in University is the most stressful thing ever, well they would be true. The work load is insane but I actually think that so far I this has been my favourite year at University. I am living in a lovely little house, with incredible friends and just having a lot of fun. I have definitely being going out a lot  more this year than any of my previous years, which probably isn't the best idea as this is my most important year of study. I will probably be ruing myself in years to come when I have a third in my degree but at the moment things are so good.

On Friday, Amarni and I went to see our favourite band in the entire world Bon Iver in Manchetser, I think both being huge fans of Bon Iver really cemented our friendship. Amarni's lovely friend from home Jasmine put us up for the night and met us at Picadilly Station and in true Manchester style it was raining and I had no hood or umbrella, I think I ran over a total of 5 people feet with my suitcase. After we had some food Amarni and I got ready and went to the MEN arena, I think it's safe to say I found my way relatively easily, I definitely have a good sense of direction. The night before the gig I found out that one of my new favourite bands The Staves were supporting Bon Iver, so I was possibly the most excited I have ever been for a gig and I have been to a lot. The Staves were incredible, their harmonies are the best I have ever heard, and Bon Iver were just... I actually don't have the words. Justin Vernon's performance of Woods, was absolutely phenomenal. I just, I have  no words.

After the gig we all went out in Manchester to Antwerp House, and again it was bloody amazing there was a jazz band playing all these incredible songs. The Mansion was filled with sofas and piano's and old televisions and computers. Amarni and I were completely in our element. Well there is a little update and here is a few pictures: