A Dream Within A Dream

Hello loves.
I've been having some really vivid dreams lately (I keep meaning to write snippets down but always fall back asleep before I get a chance. I need to get my butt into gear and keep a pad of paper next to my bed.) I think dreams are so interesting because they are one of few things than cannot be scientifically proven 100%. I like things that are unexplainable and almost like 'magic.' The subconscious fascinates me and I've very often found that (excuse the cliché) dreams very often do some true. So in keeping with today's post, here is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, which I love.

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Girl Crush Alert!

I have a new girl crush... meet Claire Sinclair. Playmate of the year 2011, Vegas showgirl and Spokes-girl for Betsey Johnson. I've also seen her appear on 'Holly's World' and she's just a really genuine, nice girl. I am in love with her a bit.

The Secret Garden

After being quite poorly this week and not really being able to get out of the house much, I've been watching some of my favourite childhood films to cheer myself up. Tonight's film of choice is The Secret Garden. I studied the book in my children's literature class at University and have watched the film countless times. Usually I prefer book versions to films but I think that the novel becomes a bit too focused on Colin rather than Mary's story and the magic of the garden. That said, it's still a beautiful story (albeit slightly scary if you're yougn) and it's still one of my favourite films. 

may my heart always be open to little

a lovely poem by e.e. cummings to brighten up this rainy Thursday.

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old
   
may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young
   
and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

Cowgirl Cookies

So today I decided to give one of Bakergirl's recipes a go for 'Cowgirl Cookies.' I'm not used to making American style recipes so I found it quite difficult following the method using 'cups' rather than grams. I think if I made them again I'd try and experiment with putting a little bit of milk in and a few less oats because I found the dough didn't really bind like it should, despite using egg. However that said, they are DELICIOUS. I could only manage to eat one small one though and my teeth are a bit sore from all the sugar. Bakergirl's recipe says it makes about 30 cookies but mine just made 12 gigantic ones! I had to make them big because like I said, the mixture wouldn't bind so I couldn't roll it - I just had to sculpt them using my hands. You can find the recipe for them HERE. 

Bye Bye David!

So this week is the week I say goodbye to my lovely friend David, who is going travelling around the world for 12 whole months with his girlfriend, Laura. He's started a travel blog so if you like mildly amusing people then I suggest you subscribe and give it a read! The link is http://www.travelpod.com/members/dave.lau.travel


Farewell David, and good luck!

Home, Glorious Home.

Well followers, after an incredibly stressful Saturday and a slightly stressful (but mostly blissful) Sunday, I am 75% unpacked and in my glorious little newly renovated bedroom. I've made it my own personal little space and had a darn good clear out and I'm really happy to just sit here by myself and look for writing work / read, so moving home hasn't been as tense as previously expected. (Famous last words...)


My tattoo (pictures to follow post-healing period) has been itching like crazy, especially in this humid atmosphere but I've resisted touching it because it's not worth risking ruining it just for the sake of some irritability. 


I've spent the last couple of days unpacking and sorting out all my belongings but over the next few days I'm going to get printing CV's and start sending them out to publishers in Bristol / Bath. I've applied for a few writing positions and done some research into suitable publishers I feel I could gel with so let's keep everything crossed!


I've also been keeping super disciplined with my early morning jogging / power walking. Up at 6.45am each morning and done 50 minutes of exercise followed by a home made smoothie / power juice, I'm starting to feel a bit more like my regular old self. Just about another stone to shed and I'll be the old me again :)


Looking forward to lots of nice things this week - jogging tomorrow and thursday mornings then going out for drinks with Liddy on Friday night then going to Henry's house for tea, films, games and gin on Sunday night. Lots of nice things in the pipeline...hopefully a new job will be one of them!


Anyway, that's all my news.
F xo