I've been meaning to write this entry for a while, but the pace of life hasn't let up much over the past couple of months, and when it has I've not much felt like writing.
This Summer has been a long, busy, wonderful Summer.
After my gruelling internship came to a successful close, I mooched about for a month (the month of July) seeing friends and just wandering about. It was nice, but at the same time I wish I could have done more. It was good to unqind and relax after the busyness of work, not having to worry about getting up in the morning.
I remember one day in particular, when I headed in to London, near where I worked, and got off at Leicester Square. I trailed my hands in the cool water of the fountain, watching tourist kids laugh in the early morning light. I wandered down to Foyles and Borders, browsing for hours and buying a few books. Then I read Harry Potter in the park. It was perfect, to wander the city without a care. I do like London, it's such a busy city with a lot of hidden gems. It's not my favourite place, but I could see myself living there someday. Maybe sooner rather than later, but we'll see.
The big event of the Summer was Lizie and I flying out to Hong Kong, staying with my friend Spencer in Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong island. She stayed with me for 3 wonderful days, during which we went to Ocean Park and took lots of photos, rode the tram and the ferry, and shopped until we could shop no more. I bid farewell to her at the airport and it felt surprisingly lonely after she was gone.
However, I soon settled into a steady rhythm of days spent wandering Central and taking pictures, sitting in Graze cafe writing, and dawdling along. Evenings were spent in clubs and bars and just enjoying being there, living daily life in Hong Kong.
I also went to Macau, which was beautiful, but forgot my camera. More reason to go back. At the end, Lizie returned and we saw Rich and Sam, en route home from Australia, and it felt like they'd never left.
Looking back through my photos I miss the place terribly. It felt right, being there. It felt like home. I missed the UK and my parents and my friends, but I need to go back. Again, somewhere I'll perhaps live one day.
Then there was the brief foray into France with family and Lizie once more, and that too was bliss. A short, sweet stay with long lunches, more photos, lying by the pool under the stars and trying in vain to point out the right ones, Lizie teaching me to dive, and lying side by side by the canal, passers by thinking we were mad.
I love to travel, and I want, wish, need to do more. The USA, Japan, France, Italy, Scandinavia, China... new places and old places, new faces and old faces, seeing things I've never seen before. I want to travel with friends, and sometimes go alone. I need to learn to be happy alone, on my own, with my own company. It can be uncomfortable, sometimes.
Then from France to Reading Festival, a long train ride away followed by a long queue, where we huddled like penguins under a darkening sky. But we got tickets, and what followed were four beautiful days of fun, sun and music. Jimmy Eat World, The Arcade Fire, lostprophets, Fall Out Boy, !!! and Gallows were all amazing. All the bands were good, but they blew me away in particular. I was amazed, because they were mostly on the Main Stage, but with the right company and the right band and the right mood, it's still good.
Fall Out Boy get a special mention for playing some Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis and the News. Also, for having a beautiful guitar.
And then, since Reading, I've mostly been back at work. Now I'm a Junior Account Executive, and the last three weeks have been a whirl. Work, yes, but also meeting Trevor McDonald, staing at the Haymarket, an away day to Shoreditch House, drinking in East London and Soho and everywhere, and a lot of fun.
And next week I get to stay in Newcastle at the Hilton. PR is a hard life, eh?
Today was good, too. Just hanging out, first time in a little while, felt good. Doing nothing isn't always a bad thing.
And now, I relax. Life is tiring when the little spaces between the action get cut to the quick.
Summer's over, now. It's been one of the best, thanks to my friends and my family and pushing my boundaries a little. The darker times fade in remembered sunlight dappling our skin, the worries dimmed by the sound of laughter in the open air.
My dad's getting better.
xox
This Summer has been a long, busy, wonderful Summer.
After my gruelling internship came to a successful close, I mooched about for a month (the month of July) seeing friends and just wandering about. It was nice, but at the same time I wish I could have done more. It was good to unqind and relax after the busyness of work, not having to worry about getting up in the morning.
I remember one day in particular, when I headed in to London, near where I worked, and got off at Leicester Square. I trailed my hands in the cool water of the fountain, watching tourist kids laugh in the early morning light. I wandered down to Foyles and Borders, browsing for hours and buying a few books. Then I read Harry Potter in the park. It was perfect, to wander the city without a care. I do like London, it's such a busy city with a lot of hidden gems. It's not my favourite place, but I could see myself living there someday. Maybe sooner rather than later, but we'll see.
The big event of the Summer was Lizie and I flying out to Hong Kong, staying with my friend Spencer in Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong island. She stayed with me for 3 wonderful days, during which we went to Ocean Park and took lots of photos, rode the tram and the ferry, and shopped until we could shop no more. I bid farewell to her at the airport and it felt surprisingly lonely after she was gone.
However, I soon settled into a steady rhythm of days spent wandering Central and taking pictures, sitting in Graze cafe writing, and dawdling along. Evenings were spent in clubs and bars and just enjoying being there, living daily life in Hong Kong.
I also went to Macau, which was beautiful, but forgot my camera. More reason to go back. At the end, Lizie returned and we saw Rich and Sam, en route home from Australia, and it felt like they'd never left.
Looking back through my photos I miss the place terribly. It felt right, being there. It felt like home. I missed the UK and my parents and my friends, but I need to go back. Again, somewhere I'll perhaps live one day.
Then there was the brief foray into France with family and Lizie once more, and that too was bliss. A short, sweet stay with long lunches, more photos, lying by the pool under the stars and trying in vain to point out the right ones, Lizie teaching me to dive, and lying side by side by the canal, passers by thinking we were mad.
I love to travel, and I want, wish, need to do more. The USA, Japan, France, Italy, Scandinavia, China... new places and old places, new faces and old faces, seeing things I've never seen before. I want to travel with friends, and sometimes go alone. I need to learn to be happy alone, on my own, with my own company. It can be uncomfortable, sometimes.
Then from France to Reading Festival, a long train ride away followed by a long queue, where we huddled like penguins under a darkening sky. But we got tickets, and what followed were four beautiful days of fun, sun and music. Jimmy Eat World, The Arcade Fire, lostprophets, Fall Out Boy, !!! and Gallows were all amazing. All the bands were good, but they blew me away in particular. I was amazed, because they were mostly on the Main Stage, but with the right company and the right band and the right mood, it's still good.
Fall Out Boy get a special mention for playing some Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis and the News. Also, for having a beautiful guitar.
And then, since Reading, I've mostly been back at work. Now I'm a Junior Account Executive, and the last three weeks have been a whirl. Work, yes, but also meeting Trevor McDonald, staing at the Haymarket, an away day to Shoreditch House, drinking in East London and Soho and everywhere, and a lot of fun.
And next week I get to stay in Newcastle at the Hilton. PR is a hard life, eh?
Today was good, too. Just hanging out, first time in a little while, felt good. Doing nothing isn't always a bad thing.
And now, I relax. Life is tiring when the little spaces between the action get cut to the quick.
Summer's over, now. It's been one of the best, thanks to my friends and my family and pushing my boundaries a little. The darker times fade in remembered sunlight dappling our skin, the worries dimmed by the sound of laughter in the open air.
My dad's getting better.
xox
saint:
Sounds like all is looking up after a beautiful summer. I wish I could travel like that, maybe after school. Good luck with the rest of your year and thank you most graciously for your kind comment.