When we played Catch

Sometimes, you just have to cling to the moments that make you happiest.

I've found this subject very difficult, and I often don't allow myself to be happy. But it's those unconscious slips where I suddenly find myself being happy that I cling to, no matter how short, how spontaneous or how trivial. I want more of them. So they deserve to be documented. In this way,when I fall into a low, I can find them again.

On a Thursday, last thing, we have a form period where various pieces of admin occur. Currently we are preparing Christmas Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. And we had a spare bouncy ball.

It started with me, bouncing it off of the desk.

Then Beth asked me to throw it to her, and we played catch.

Soon there was Mignonne, Nikki and Tom.

Then we tried to get it into the fire bucket.

And we played piggy in the middle.

And then we returned to playing catch, bouncing it off of the cupboard doors.

It sounds far too simple.

But the excitement and sheer concentration, competitiveness and frivolity of us near-adults, over a small, bouncy ball, was somewhat astonishing. The relief it gave over its simplicity broke the trend of the serious nature of A-Levels. I laughed and I smiled, and while others looked on at us thinking us childish, I didn't care. It was fun.

It forces me to acknowledge the friends I have, and to appreciate them for all they're worth, because they are worth far more than me. They see me through all of the guarded, upset,conflicted Rachel, and help to reveal the light-hearted one. 

They are the best people in the world.

Autumn Shades

It's been a while since I first introduced you to my art journalling. I have found that I use it to be the complete opposite to what my A-Level course demands: free, brightly coloured and a general expression of what goes on in my brain. Some of my pages are too personal for me to ever consider sharing, but I hope that you enjoy this selection on the theme of Autumnal, leafy shades!

School is tough, and I am wading my way through coursework, personal statements and physics tests galore, but finding time to craft is difficult. I have, however,started my Christmas Cards and Christmas Gifts,which make me very happy,although I must remember that my sister's birthday comes before the Christmas Holidays, and that means I need to make something at least passable before the week where I hope to make her a Cath Kidston-esque quilt, which if you like, I could show my step by step process. 

I hope to post again soon, but I wonder what this next half term shall bring me!

P.S. While Yes, this past week has been the half term holiday, I have an excuse! I was in Edinburgh! Lots of lovely pictures and I adore the University, so perhaps I'll share some soon!

Oh Blergh

Yes, after my long silence I reward you with: teenage troubles that have nowhere else to go...

On Thursday I received a cryptic text from one of my friends from school. It read:

'I know someone who likes you.'

Sounds straight forward? Well it should be, but I have received similar messages which end up being completely benign.

Anyway, Friday dawned, and walking to school from the bus, I was ambushed by said friend, where it was announced that this actually wasn't a joke.

*Instant Thoughts Running Through Mind*

Maybe its the guy I like? 

But what if its horrible?

 Or I don't even know him (which isn't hard to imagine, I'm useless with people names and anything else that is used to form memories of people)

This could still turn out to be another joke!

I was then informed that it was someone in my form.

Oh no.

Then:

'It' someone who can look up to you'

Great. Short. I know who it is.

I mean he's a good person, and I'd call him a friend, but not in that way. What's worse is that, after other digging, it's been circulating the sixth form centre, and I had no idea. This means, due to some 'independent school guy code' the boy I like probably won't even admit anything until either a) I've turned the other one down or b) the other one finds a new girl to hit on.

Ether way I'm doomed, so I might as well focus on my work.

P.S. I was thinking about changing the purpose of this blog: any free time I have is either minuscule and I'm fuming over something, or I take it up with what little crafting I can do. I just don't want to turn this into a lifestyle blog if no one wants to. I'll get a new blog and let this one go dormant. Let me know what you think.

Good Grief, September

It sounds like I should be in a period drama, addressing a girl called September who has just announced a scandal. At least, in my head it does.

So. September has nearly flown away in a blink of an eye and I have barely started my Christmas presents. Don't panic Rachel, not yet, don't panic. I do have excuses to serve them all.

1) I am taking A Levels in History, Physics and Art. These take up time to do the work, but also getting used to the classes again.

2) I have a Physics class of three - me and two boys. One is lovely, one is most definitely not. I'm still getting used to how this is going to work.

3) I had a presentation to give to the governors as part of a prize competition, got very worked up, but hopefully could have clawed it back with my question answering skills.

4) The joys of being upper sixth - Tug of War, Bus Monitor, advice to younger students... Tug of War caused Pain.

5) Volunteering at the National Trust on Saturdays.

6)general life making me tired.

7) UCAS

But also, things to be glad about:

Downton Abbey

Skirts

Chocolate Cake

A Trebuchet

Rail Tickets

Friends

So perhaps September has been well balanced. But I must do more crafting...

August Review

So comes the end of the eighth month of 2013, and I nearly managed to provide a blog post for every day of this month. And it was difficult.

 

I am usually a sporadic blogger, if that, and attempting to find and fill that many posts in a short amount of time with sufficient content was, well, hard.

 

But you are the reader, you are the one who this impacts the most. I doubt I'll ever post as much as I did this month ever again without at least six months preparation for it, but if I were to keep a regular feature, what of the past months posts would you like to keep?

 

'My Favourite' Mondays?

 

Writing Wednesdays?

 

To-do Lists?

 

I don't know whether this has been a successful venture, so please tell me in the comments, and wish me luck with returning to school.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Camera Experiments: Caves

 

The problem came when trying to balance that flash with the low level light, and getting a decent picture: These ones turned out ok!

From my holiday to Crete.



Hat Time!

It is once again time to think about the Big Knit, by Innocent Smoothies....

Knitting gorgeous, little hats! And all in aid of raising funds for Age UK!

I have already surpassed my total of *cough*four*cough* last year, and already have ten! And with about a month to go, I'm sure I can get a few more out as I cosy up in front of NCIS for the night! Perfect relaxation from school.

I am, however, in dire need for advice on what to put on my hats apart from pompoms - I hate them! and I can never make them small enough!
Do you have any ideas?