My aim for Inky Quill and Paper

Hi guys! Yeah, I know it's been a while... I've lost my motivation again which annoy's me because I was going rather well for about two months... Anyway, my motivation to write weekly blog posts has stopped. I want to do something different and more interesting.
For a while now, I've been blogging, a certain type of post keeps re-accuring and I've been enjoying preparing and writing them. The posts I'm talking about are my photo travel posts. These posts are simply about places I've visited during my day-to-day life. I really want to move into the direction of photographing my adventures and sharing them on here.
The issue I'm having, however, is my lack of interesting adventures when I am always at school every week and rarely leave the area for weeks at a time. So, to conclude, I will be continuing my blog to some extent but not in the way as before. I really love writing for this blog but sometimes when I write, it feels like a chore rather than something fun. I want to write about things that I enjoy.
Anyway, thanks for sticking with my rather inconsistent blog. It really matters to me that I still have people reading and I'll see you in another post shortly.
See ya on the flip side,
Holly x

Life Update: What's been happening in my life?

Hi guys! Gosh, it's been a bit of a while, hasn't it? I never meant for this to be such a long extended break from the blog spree but suddenly, college was back and so was the heavy workload. But I'm back with another post! I thought, because it had been a while, it would be acceptable to fill you all in about what has been happening in my life these past two weeks or so.
Last week, quite a few things started to happen in my life again. This included lots of work and lots of cold weather and unattractive thermals and layers. Wednesday brought about my first 12 mile paddle of the year in my lovely kayak. My partner, Helen, and I managed to complete this route in two hours and five minutes which was an improvement of our time last year. Although exhausting, it was rather rewarding at the finish. The sense of satisfaction is brilliant.
Then, on Saturday, it was bonfire night which simply means lots of fireworks, warm bonfires and hearty food. I took some rather arty photos that night which I even impressed myself with especially with the bad lighting and cold, rainy weather.

This past week has been especially hectic for me. On Thursday, I went back to my old school to collect my GCSE certificate for basically getting at least one GCSE during my pre-college exams. Overall, it was a rather dull evening and it reminded me of how much happier I am at my new college over my old school but it was nice seeing so many people that I haven't seen for quite a few months.
Then, on Friday, I went into London for an art trip. We started the day by visiting the Victoria and Albert Musuem to take a free sketches of some of the figurative sculptures and then a look at a recent exhibition of Constable: The Making of a Master. Constable is a very famous landscape artist who uses a build of texture to produce stunning paintings of landscapes from his life. There are some really stunning pieces in that exhibition so if you are in London, I recommend you have a look. Well worth the visit.
We then moved onto the the Royal Academy of Art to look at the recent exhibition of Anselm Kiefer who is another Landscape artist who uses a variety of materials such as straw, paint and mud to create abstract landscape pieces. Another stunning exhibition that has a variety of thought- provoking pieces. Another must-check-out. Here's some of my photos from the day...

I have also been trying to produce some better photos recently by experimenting with how I take them and how I edit them. I took some photos early this morning on a iPad and then edited them on Photoshop Express so that I could have a play around with the landscapes from where I live. Some of these photos are below..

Emotionally, I feel like my life is starting to change and move in the right direction again. Maybe, somethings happen for a reason so that you become aware of the things that are around you and have been the whole time.
Over the next couple of days, I have the National Schools Kayaking Championship which is a race composing of a few sprints and one long distance paddle against schools from all over the country. I'm a bit apprehensive but excited for the racing season to start again. I also have an art exhibition and workshop with Landscape artist Mark Spray which should be really interesting and inspiring as well as my college parents evening, which I know will be just a bit dull but it's just part of life.
I should be posting a rather exciting post tomorrow so stay tuned for that.
See ya on the flip side,
Holly x

New Blog Design!

Hi all! So I've been working hard all day and have officially completed my new blog design! I was getting slightly tired of my old blue, pink and grey design and decided to expand it to a black, pink and grey design. I have to say, I really do like it!
What do you think about it? Let me know in the comments as I'd love to know!
Also if you have my blog button on your blog or wish to do a button swap (email me so I know), can you copy the new html code for my new button and swap it for the old one! Thank you!

html code:
<div align="center"><a href="http://inkyquillandpaper.blogspot.co.uk/" title="Inky Quill and Paper"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gIqnGs_v39hkjAyS3Y-AVKCsC9t7ZVYFzsKCcTJpKAJJF3tM1yXLqXsi1LAnbQbU17aaKGLocso=w1415-h599" alt="Inky Quill and Paper" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

See ya on the flip side,
Holly x

Life Update

Heyyya guys! I know. I know. My blog is a mess currently! In the past two weeks, I have only probably posted once which I am kinda disappointed in myself for as I tried so hard to plan and organise blogging before college started. The thing is once I started college it was non-stop work so much so that I should be working now. My whole blogging plan of three a week went completely out the window and Inky Quill and Paper was almost left to gather dust....
I've been thinking recently about my blog and how I was going maintain it when clearly, I'm too busy to post a suitable and interesting amount per week. With these thoughts, I have come to the conclusion of one post per week during the school week on a Saturday Evening/Night and two posts per week during the holidays, one on Wednesday and one on Saturday. I still want to maintain this blog as much as possible and I need to be able to apply my time a lot better than I am now.
So thats the conclusion of my 'life update'. Don't worry, this shouldn't be the only post this weekend so I'll see you then..
See ya on the flip side,
Holly x

The Dreaded Back to School Post

So the time is here. The dreaded time of the year for everyone to go back to school. For me, that time is tomorrow. I will starting a completely new school and going into my twelfth year of education. Scary stuff. I've been sorting and packing all day, getting ready for later tonight where I will be setting up my dorm room ready for the next year.
This is kind of a little chatty post about whats in store. As I will be at school, my blogging is going to be a lot less limited compared to the past month. I will now be blogging every Wednesday and Saturday, starting next week, and most Sundays. This week I will have a blog post out this Friday and on Sunday so stay tuned for them.
Anyway, I know this was a bit short but it's more of a chatty, update kind of post than a proper blog post! You shall be regularly updated so stick around!
See ya on the flip side,
Holly x

Blogust #31: Last Blogust Post

So this is it. The end of an era. I feel a bit emotional about saying goodbye to this little series. It's literally been my world for a whole 31 days and that is a long freaking time, guys! It's been a bit of a rollarcoaster with the down days, good days, boring days and days in which I forgot to post but we've done it! I have been daily blogging for a whole month! That's actually scary! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it as I certainally have!

On Tuesday, I will return to my normal blogging ways, posting about little things in my life and stuff. I feel like this month has made me improve so much on my blog writing skills. Writing to you guys just feels so natural now which I find absolutely fantastic! 

So especially for you guys, here is a sneak peak of my next blog post...

It's underway and in writing so that'll be up soon! Literally cannot wait!

Anyway, back to my blogust day! It's been work, tidying, organising and planning. I've particually ticked everything off my to-do list and that makes me happy. So because I was in a good mood and felt good, I took a selfie. (Just don't ask)

I feel like I'll be at a lost without telling you guys about my day-to-day life every night. This literally turned into my online diary for a month and I now feel so emotionally tied. However, this can't last forever so this is goodbye to my blogust series, goodbye to daily blogging and goodbye to you guys for now!

Thank you for the support!

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x  

Blogust #30: Working hard and being prepared

Heyya guys! My second last blogust post is here (crying). I don't think I'm quite ready to saying goodbye to this daily blogging thing but it was only meant to be short term and my life is wayyyyy too boring to do this all the time.

Anyway, today is been one of those uneventful days in which I spend start on a laptop, highlighting books and writing notes. College life is fast approaching and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's going to be such a different environment to what I'm used even though I know it so well. It's going to be so weird.  

Today was also the first day in which I have properly used my new laptop and I love it. It's so quick. The sound is amazing. I just love it. (Plus it works which is kinda a good thing :P)

I've also been trying to get a bit organised. I have a lot of stuff to do before starting college on Thursday including tidying my room, sorting my washing, sorting out college stuff and completing work. I'm getting a bit stressed about it all. I already feel like I need a holiday but that's not going to happen. 

Anyway, I'll see you all tomorrow in my last ever blogust post!

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x

Blogust #29: Another shopping trip!

Hello everyone! Day 29 of Blogust is here and I am actually writing this on a laptop because today, I finally got my own ready to start college with. Its a snazzy macbook air. Have any of you guys got MacBooks? Comment something cool about them in the comments that I may not know.

(New baby)

Anyway, today I went shopping. I know. I know. This is starting to look like I go shopping every single day but i promise you, its a one off for me to go so much. It's simply to make sure I have everything I could possibly need to start college with and that includes boarding house snacks. Also, everything I'm buying will be put into my back to school post next week so it's all really for your entertainment :P

(Sneak peak)

While I was shopping, I also stopped for lunch in the town centre Cafe Nero. This Cafe is situated on the top floor of a waterstones which means few people know where it is so often its completely empty. There I got a panini, hot chocolate and passionfruit and orange drink. It was rather lovely. (I feel so british writing that ;))

The lovely Olivia over at Boho and Brownies nominated me for the Liebster Blog award again today. As I have already done my post and nominations, I thought I'd answer her questions in today's Blogust post. So here we are...

{1} What fashion trend do you wish would return?
Uggs. Why aren't they no longer accepted? Someone answer me this question.

{2} What are your guilty pleasures?
Chocolate. Humous. One Direction. Big Brother.

{3} Whats your favourite season?
Autumn. I love the smells, colours, clothing and festivals/events.

{4} What is your most prized possession?
My new laptop i think.

{5} If you could eat anything for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I don't think I could eat just one thing for the rest of my life because I'd get sick of it so easily which would suck as I would have to keep eating it.

{6} What would be your dream job?
A mixture of a flat water kayaking coach, film producer and primary school teacher.

{7} What do you see yourself doing in 10 years time?
Hopefully settling down and getting married while tracking down my first teaching job.

{8} What would be your number on blogging tip?
Plan and think ahead. It's helping me all the time if I know what I'm doing for my next post or what I have to plan for.

{9} Whats your favourite post that you've written so far?
That's tricky to say. I quite liked my Writing Process Tag post but I've liked a few of my Blogust posts too.

{10} Whats your earliest memory?
Tipping chocolate pudding and cream over my wendy house.

{11} What is your proudest achievement to date?
There's two. Completely my 23 mile paddle with 6 miles at the beginning being completed by a run and my GCSE results.

Well thats it for another Blogust post. I feel like I'm starting to count down to the final one now, which is rather scary. Just think, I've been daily blogging for a WHOLE month!
Anyway, goodnight and talk tomorrow.
See ya on the flip side,
Holly x

Blogust #28: Visiting family friends and trip into Oxford

Heyya guys! Sorry for another late one but we got back rather late last night and I was completely knackered. Anyway, onto the blogpost.

The day started at a decent time with a trip off into Oxfordshire to see some family friends who had recently moved house. We've been friends with them for a long time (probably since we were tiny) and used to holiday together and see each other regularly.

It was nice to see them again after so long and chill out really.

After lunch, we went on a exploration of the area before quickly catching a bus to take us into Oxford. There we wandered about, shopped a little bit and then stopped to grab a ice cream/sorbet and a drink in a cute little cafe on a street corner. I can't quite remember what it's called but it's away from all the main shops by a street or so.

There's only three blogust posts left now guys! I'm getting emotional! 

Anyway, talk later. Love you!

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x

Blogust #27: Successful shopping trip!

Heyyya guys! If you've been reading my past blogposts, you would know that little under a week ago I had a bit of failure when it came to shopping for college suits. Today it was different. Yay! I went in good, old H&M and came out less than an hour later with two skirt suits (one black, one grey) and three shirts (one white, one light blue, one blue and white striped).

I literally couldn't be happier.

Also on my shopping trip, I brought lots of stationary and stuff for my dorm room ready for the start of term and my back to school blogpost coming up next week. 

I'm getting so excited about going back to normal blogging now. I feel like I've gained a lot of experience from the last month of daily blogging and I can't wait to see how my blogging has evolved. I also can't wait to see what's in store with this whole blogging thing. Every follow, comment makes me really happy because it shows that people like what I'm doing and I couldn't be more grateful.

Anyway, I'm rambling so goodnight!

See ya on the flip side, 

Holly x

Blogust #26: Catching up on work

Heyya guys! So today has been rather uninteresting again. It's getting to the point in the month where nothing exciting is happening because my priority is getting ready for school to start. Obviously the start of this month was rather exciting because I was here, there, everywhere on my travels but because I opted out of Scotland because of my operation, little is happening at the end. I do apologise for that but I'm kinda hoping my weird personality is showing through and semi keeping you guys entertained! 

 

Last night, I finished the great gatsby which mean I can finally crack on and highlight and annotate quotes. ( really good book towards the end, don't give up)

I've also had to continue my psychology note taking which appears to be taking forever for such a small, skinny book. At least the stuff inside is interesting enough for me to not get bored quickly. 

(Checky snapchat story screenshot thing)

Anyway, tomorrow me, a friend and my family are heading into town to do a college/school shopping trip so hopefully I'll have some photos and interesting stories to tell you guys! Stay tuned for that ;). All the stationary and stuff I buy for college and the boarding house i will be writing up a post about to publish next week.

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x 

Blogust #25: staying up late at night reading and forgetting to blog

Heyya guys and welcome to another day in rainy Britain. I know this blogpost is late but I got hooked on a book and it was too late by the time I finished. I know you've all been there ;)

Yesterday was really uninteresting. I spent the whole day highlighting and annotating psychology books and watching youtube videos because I'm still behind. 

However, I do have some semi interesting stuff to discuss with you guys!

It's getting to the point in my summer where I'm really missing being in a boat and racing. I've been doing a lot of reminiscing and over planning because of this. Fingers crossed, I'll be back in a boat soon.

Recently, I've been also thinking a bit more about what I've been eating and trying to stick to a healthy but energy packed diet. This means I've been trying to eat more fruit and veg than I normally do.

What's been happening in your lives? Are you healthy eating obsessed like me? What do you enjoy snacking on? Tell me in the comments.

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x

Blogust #24: Sunday = Roast Dinner Day

Heyya guys! Guess what day it is? Wednesday? Correct. I'm joking! It's Sunday! You probably all know that actually but hayho.

If you are British, you will know that Sunday is classed as roast dinner day where you, clearly, have a good old roast dinner with all the trimmings. The best thing about being British I think. I love a good roast. 

We also had some of my family down from Oxfordshire. We haven't properly send them for a long time so catch-up was well over due even if they aren't anything like us.

I starting to dawn on me that college is getting closer and closer and I have so much to do before. I'm getting a bit stressed. I have nothing to wear. I feel behind on my college work. I feel like I know nothing about what I need or anything. I'm a bit lost and it's approaching so quick.

I also need to sort out my boat before the start of training which is the week after the start of term. It takes up a lot of time so I'm a bit worried about that too.

Everything seems to be catching up on me which isn't the best for my mood. I guess that's just the way things go sometimes.

Anyway, I'm rambling so goodnight one and all and speak tomorrow.

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x

Blogust #23: Failed Shopping Trip

Hey guys! So today's been a bit of a miserable, tiring day really. As I'm going to college and the uniform is suits and stuff, I've had to attempt to buy lots of smart stuff.

Issue is I'm short and a bit skinny.

In other words, things either look too big or make me look too short. Help. 

I went shopping today to try and solve this problem. I went to a big marks and Spencer's and found only a blouse that looked nice. Skirts could have probably fit another person in. Trousers made me look like a dwarf. A actual nightmare...

It's starting to stress me out how unprepared I am for the start of the year. I have zero suitable bottoms but plenty of suitable tops. I'm not a skinny Minnie and can fit even in size tens sometimes but somehow a size eight was too big for me in marks and there was no size sixs.

Okay, stop ranting. Here's a picture of a hot chocolate....

Anyway, good night my friends!

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x

Blogust #22: Work, Work and more work!

Heyya guys! I'm gunna apologise now for such a boring blog post but I have literally done nothing of interest today and that's the way my day planned out.

I realised today that school starts in less than two weeks and I'm still yet to finish my college work for the start of term so I've spent a couple of hours today reading, annotating and writing ready for the start of term. I'm currently prepping to start English and Psychology but I'm also taking Art and Drama and Theatre Studies next year. 

Also today I've prepping paperwork for the start of training. This includes planning training routes, working out training dates and organising emails and stuff. Although some people would find this boring, I do it completely voluntary and love it so there we go.

Anyway, that's it for today apart from a quick thank you to F from the fence of stars (I'll link this when I get on a laptop) for nominating me for another award. It should be up tomorrow and I'll hold to that promise. Goodnight.

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x

Blogust #21: GCSE results day..

Guys, I'm sorry I've been a bad blogging and didn't post this yesterday but it's early in the morning and in some place in the world, it's still yesterday so yeah, let's pretend ;) 

Anyway, yesterday was a bit of a scary day for me. My GCSE results day. For those who may not know what this is, it's a series of important exams that British sixteen year olds sit at the end of their school year. 

I was kinda scaried about what I was gunna get because this year wasn't the best year for me as I has been off school since March due to illness and I was behind on all my work when it came up to the exams. 

Drum roll please.......

I PASSED ALL OF THEM!!!!

Yay!!! 

So to celebrate, I went to a supermarket and brought stationary for school to start again. I have such a fun life :P

Nice bit of product placement there even though no sponsorship. 

But the real celebration was for us to get a Chinese takeaway which was very yummy and tasty and lovely. There's something nice about getting a good takeaway.

It's been feeling very autumny today. The sky's are dark throughout the day and the night is coming earlier. The wind is certainly picking up and it's getting rather cold really.

I love autumn so I'm rather excited about this. Bring it on!

Anyway, here's what I brought earlier.

(Great photography there, holly, good job)

This is all for using in book annotations and stuff for my AS levels to start. 

Right, signing off now! Talk to you later!

See ya on the flip side,

Holly x