"Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it just to just to reach you... 

When I cannot sing my heart, I can only speak my mind..."

It's been some time since I last posted, and I've been quite busy in the past few weeks. From Friday until this afternoon, I've been at Gregynog Hall in Wales. Gregynog is a beautiful manor house, completely isolated in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by 750 acres of exquisite landscapes. We were there as part of a "writer's retreat", with plenty of time to be spent exploring the woodlands, rolling fields and glorious pastures that fringe the house. On Saturday night, we all dressed up for dinner and everyone looked lovely in their finest clothes. I wish I'd got some pictures while I was there, as it really was the most enchanting time. Gregynog is also allegedly haunted, and has been featured on ghost-busting television shows, but disappointingly the spooks decided not to come out for me.

For me, at least, one of the most magnificent things about Gregynog was an experience I had in the grounds, directly in front of it. I walked through the grass, past a halo of curly branches waving intertwined to create Carroll-esque havens, then underneath the most whimsical, ivy cloaked bridge and was transported into another time altogether. I floated into a scene of opulence and grandeur. Pretty ladies in panniers waltzed with their suitors, and I am a nobleman's daughter. In reality, I was just walking under an old bridge into a vast lawn, hemmed with perfectly pruned and almost regal hedges but it was the most vivid thing my imagination had ever conjured. It was more tangible than a mere hallucination or daydream, I was only traces away from actually being there.

In other news, there was no mobile phone reception, nor seemingly any WiFi. However, products of our generation as we are, we waved around our phones in the air, walking around the manor until we found a spot by the fire that had access!

While there, I came to acquire the nickname Dot! Apparently, my outfit on the first day reminded several people of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz (the red shoes, perhaps?), so they christened me Dot!

(image source: http://www.uncg.edu/)

all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.

In contrast to my last blog post, I've had a good couple of days! I've finally made a good friend after chatting with a girl seated next to me in the lecture theatre. All the students and staff on our course then went to a local pub, The Pilgrim, which was a groovy place. I met a girl there who, coincidentally, turned out to live in the flat I attended a party at on my first night. Her party was pretty awkward though - I got harassed by a really drunk guy, and after a few girls told me that I looked like Zooey Deschanel, they put on You Make My Dreams Come True and asked me to dance to it "like in the film" - funny, I guess, but awkward.

My new friend and I met up again today, and made plans to set up a Vintage and Retro Society with the Student Union. As it turns out, she started talking to me because, in her words, "You're retro, aren't you? I noticed you when you came in late yesterday." I've sent off the application form and now I'm just waiting to hear back about whether they decide to approve it. If it is approved, we hope to hold retro tea parties, screen classic films, and have lessons in things such as crocheting, baking, victory rolls and vintage dance moves like the twist. Fingers crossed!

Anyway, tomorrow, we're meeting up to attend the Fresher's Fair, where we'll find out about the various clubs and societies we can join - if ours is approved, we will also have a stand to showcase ours at the other fairs throughout the week. After that, we're going to see Anna Karenina at FACT, and then off to the legendary Cavern Club! Hopefully we'll get to catch Richard Batty or The Amazing Kappa while we're there, and if not? Who cares, it's the Cavern!

On a semi-related last note, I have just realised how many Beatles things the area I'm living in contains! The building next door is where John Lennon was born in, and on the same street is the former Mount Pleasant Registry Office, where he married Cynthia Powell fifty years ago last month. It's hard to imagine John, Paul and George, already Beatles at that point, (Ringo did not attend) piling in to the building!


Bee

x

introversion

It's my fourth day in Liverpool today, and my induction at the university begins tomorrow morning. As expected, I haven't really being enjoying Welcome Week. While I'm all for having fun, and understand that my own tastes don't necessarily match up to those of others, it undeniably fails to cater for a wide range of personalities. Welcome Week - which, despite the name, is 15 days long - is simply club events every single night for the next fortnight, which is definitely not my thing. I'd prefer a little variation as not everyone likes clubbing - especially not every single night.

My brand of evening fun is to go and watch some live music at a small, intimate venue, or an open mic night. I really don't want to sound like I'm whining because I already have fallen in love with the city and my roommates are lovely, but I went out the first night with everyone and I couldn't stand it. Why are introverts so unacceptable to greater society? I am intelligent and thoughtful, and when I have something genuine or of value to say, I'll speak up. But I'm not going to go tearing down the street, shrieking at people because I like the sound of my own voice and getting drunk out of my mind as long as everyone else is doing it. I probably sound as though I'm being incredibly judgmental about the people who enjoy this sort of thing - I'm not. My flatmates have been partaking in it too, but they haven't been acting obnoxious or falling over, wasted - they've just been going out, doing a little dancing, chatting warmly and having fun, because they enjoy it. I have no problem with that whatsoever. My issue is with the rejection of introversion, socially.

I'm not trying to argue that being an extrovert is to be of less value, at all. I'm merely trying to make a point that the contrary view is equally misguided. We live in a world where introversion is unacceptable and seen as a flaw. It is an instinct, not a decision, yet our whole lives "they" try to drill it out of us, because it's more social and healthy that way. But is it really healthy to force someone to spend uncomfortable periods of time with others if they are happiest alone? It is draining and unnatural. Famous introverts - like Einstein, Audrey Hepburn and Al Pacino - are revered, but in real life? People with this nature are often viewed as lacking in personality, aloof and vacant.

There are many positives to being an introvert, so don't sell yourself short trying to conform if it's not what you want. Creativity is often linked to it - many legendary musicians included- and we are often sensitive to other people's feelings due to all the time we spend immersed in our own minds. We are also calm, quite often a bit kooky and uncoventional, and have an increased likelihood of high intelligence. Being an extrovert is also advantageous, of course, but I'm less familiar with that side of a person's biological mental programming. Soon, I'll ask a more externally focused friend to write a guest post about it, so I can give a balanced view.

Yours Quietly,

Amy Louise

x

just breathe.

Continuing the theme of finding long lost things on my computer, I've just discovered this odd little poem thing!

Just breathe
i'll be seeing you
i look like a penguin
i love you for that
imagine that
you big goof
you don't know me
says (the junkie/the boy/the guy who knows i'm afraid of the water)

What on earth?!

I'm busy making last minute preparations to move to Liverpool tomorrow to attend university, so I was kind of taken aback to see this!

Let me sleep all night in your soul kitchen.

                                    Just found this old photo of me in hipster glasses. What a poser!

Dreams unfold you, in them, dear, I'll hold you

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting a 1940s event that was taking place at Bantock House Museum and Park. Unfortunately, I don't own any forties dresses, otherwise I'd have thrown one straight on for the day!

Unfortunately, when I got there I realised my camera had run out of battery while I was uploading videos earlier, so I had to use my phone.

Browsing a vintage stall

Here I am playing the "Shut up Hitler" game,
 where you throw beanbags into his mouth to win!

 While I was watching the elderly man play tunes on a ukulele in imitation of George Formby, a photographer  kindly offered to take my photograph. We shot it against a window, looking out onto the grounds of the manor.

photo credit: Mugshots Photography

Lastly, here's a little video of String of Pearls, who performed classic songs from the 40s and 50s. My mom filmed it, which is why you can see me on the left of the stand at one point - I don't have a doppelganger! How sweet are the vintage-clad couple dancing?

While finishing off on a music-related note, I just wanted to add that the title lyric comes from my favourite song of all time, Goodnight Sweetheart by Al Bowlly. I did hope they would sing it, but as it's a 1931 recording, it was a long shot. It's just so lovely! 

Outfit details:

dress - Primark via charity shop

tights - ASDA

shoes - New Look

bag - Primark