What is in my Handbag?

If I'd have thought about this in advance, I would probably have taken a picture... But I'm writing this (in advance) four hours before I leave for my holiday and I've already emptied my handbag... So I guess I can just give you a list of the usual suspects:

My Purse, which has inside it all my money and my cards, including my Student ID, my National Trust Membership, my library card etc. I also keep a spare pair of earrings in the coin section.

My phone, which I tuck my driving licence into the pocket of.

An umbrella.

My sunglasses.

A compact mirror.

Red lipstick.

A notebook and pen.

Receipts that are probably several months old.

Sweet wrappers.

A pair of headphones.

There are probably things I have forgotten, but my handbag is rather small, so I can't fit too much junk in it... it seems to still hold an awful lot though!

Favourite Quote

I don't really have a favourite quote. I love the use of words that hold such a deep meaning to them, that spinning of a phrase that is so memorable. Quotes are little tiny pieces of other people that we can relate to, wrapped up beautifully by a combination of letters. I don't have a favourite because they're all used for different reasons.

I have quotes which make me laugh, quotes which give me hope. I've found quotes that sum up pieces of my personality into words I hadn't even thought of yet to describe it. I have quotes that have given me advice, quotes which give me strength through school, exams, through my long distance relationship. 

I have quotes from characters in books that I love that bring me joy for the story as I remember them, those places where you read them and your heart swells with pride, and possibly even make your eyes well up with tears.

Words and quotes are such powerful things, how can I pick one?

But seeing as this requires me to, my favourite quote is not from a book, a film, a song, or anyone famous at all. It's from my Dad. He used to say this all the time, and it's stuck with me through the years:

"If you can't do anything about it, stop worrying. If you can do something, go do it."

If I Won the Lottery...

...I would probably be very boring and keep it away for a rainy day. I've got a lot ahead of me in the future, that sort of money would be useful when buying a house, or even if I ever had a wedding, or even further in the future, wanted to send my children to good schools.

Goodness that's a scary thought... children.

I'm not saying I wouldn't do anything with it. I'd want to pay off my student debt, maybe treat myself to a few nice things: some craft stuff or a really nice piece of jewelry perhaps. Maybe a holiday or two - I''ve alwasy wanted to see a fair few of the capitals in Europe, perhaps a roadtrip round there or something? But I wouldn't get rid of it all that quickly. I'm hoping to have a long life ahead of me, I still need to work for my living, but that would be a nice cushion to fall back on.

The Crown Jewels

This layout was a realisation to me. I love these sorts of gold, heritage colour schemes, but I really don't have enough of it, or the embellishments for it. The pages have gotten a bit sparse, but they'll do for now.

Visiting the crown jewels was influenced by the state opening of parliament just as the Yeoman Warders were, in that, some of the crown jewels were actually being used at the time of our visit! Seeing them all though was a bit underwhelming, but that may have just been due to the fact that I was close to passing out while we went round...

Maybe just a little bit...

Most Proud Moment

I know a lot of my life is academics orientated, and I'm afraid this is going to be the same. I was proud of what I achieved in my Upper Sixth, and that day last August when the email came through from York was the best feeling in the world. I had achieved my dream of nearly ten years in the making.

Similarly, I returned to my school in October for our Speech Day where all of the awards are handed out. I was awarded the prize for Endeavour, or, triumph in the face of adversity. It was an acknowledgement of the struggles I'd had to reach my goal, my mental state, switching schools. Holding that plate in my hands was a tangible reminder that I had overcome so much and gotten so far. That all of the tears were worth it. That, not everyone had suffered the way I did, yet I had still managed to succeed. 

It was proof of how strong I had become, without even realising it.

First Celebrity Crush?

Celebrities really aren't my thing. I find them dull. If I do form an attachment, it's usually to a character. In which case, this would have to be Fred Weasley.

I don't remember exactly what it was that drew me to Fred and not George (although Oliver Wood was in close third place). I don't know if it was the glamour of quidditch, or the appeal of a ginger, or just someone a little bit cheeky to counter balance my prim-ness, but I remember distinctly, at a fairly young age, wanting to have a Fred Weasley in my life.

However, I can vouch or the saying: 'be careful what you wish for'. At university, I met someone who very closely resembled Fred both physically and personality wise. It was not a good mix. We did a couple of group projects together and he drove me insane. He never did any of the reading, I did all of the work, it was infuriating. The only thing we really had in common, besides our chosen subject, was our share in sarcastic humour. Which, when not working, was indeed quite fun to have someone to bounce off.

So perhaps it was the humour in Fred Weasley I found most attractive, as it was the trait I was most likely to like,

Piercings or Tattoos?

I am very dull. I just have my earlobes pierced. I can have one earring in each ear. I usually stick to studs, but I have been known to have some longer ones occasionally.

Funny story though, when I had them done, the lady used a device like a stapler. she drew a cross on each ear and then stapled my left ear first, then my right ear. I actually went into shock and nearly passed out...

Great excuse to eat a bar of chocolate though!

In the wise words of Remus Lupin:

*gesturing at the chocolate*

"Eat. You'll feel better."