Finally Feb

Welcome February! My god am I pleased to see you! Is it just me, or did January seem to go on forever and ever and ever? But, the 1st is upon us! Pay day has happened (finally), I've done a load of washing, started my novel and am ready to kick some ass!

Hair Hair Hair

Long hair, short hair, long hair, short hair... you get the jist. Like almost everyone out there, I always wants what I haven't got when it comes to hair -which is fine when I'm craving short, but not so much when I want long. If you're like me and haven't got the money, or time for extensions, then you'll know how excruciatingly slow hair grows. By the time you're at the length you wanted so badly, you're bored so chop it all off and are back at square one!

Can it be summer yet?

I've always been a winter lover, preferring the colder months full of blankets, hot chocolates and boots! -but recently, I've felt myself craving the sun and summer. I jus have to see a flash of some sunny photos and I'm off dreaming of beaches, long nights, ice cream and hazy, lazy summer days. I feel like this summer is going to be the most exciting (and busiest) of my life so far, and that just makes me want it even more.

Here we go again

Hi everyone, hope you're well!
So, as hopefully you all know, tomorrow is the 20th of January -also known as the day a lot of uni students start back (myself included). Tomorrow will be the first day of my last EVER semester at University... how the hell did that happen?!

I'm going back to school

Yes you read that title right... I am going back to school. Only this time, I'm going to be the teacher! Now if you've been reading my blog for a while (If not then, hi, welcome!), you will know that I was applying for some PGCE courses in order to eventually become a drama teacher. Well, I can happily confirm that I did receive a conditional offer (of me completing my degree), and have therefore accepted my place and will start studying in September!
I am so excited it's actually crazy!
I'm doing a SCITT course which means that I will be in secondary schools from the first day they're back after summer and will be learning on the job.

Welcome to 2020

Hello again and HAPPY NEW YEAR! -How the hell is it 2020?!

So this is a very scary/exciting year for me as LOTS is happening. I'm talking finishing uni, graduating, moving in with my boyfriend, turning 21, (hopefully) passing my driving test and last, but certainly not least, starting my PGCE. 

And I intended write about it all! 

Now, I know myself, and I know I have little spurts of wanting to write continuously to then not touching this blog for a couple of months. And I reallyyyyy want to get out of that bad habit! So if anyone has any tips or tricks to stay focused pleased pop them in the comments -it would be super helpful.

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet and I'm having one of my 'spurts' so want to get a few posts written and ready to go!

Hopefully see you all soon and happy New Year,

Hollie xx

The Sea

This piece is from my 1st year portfolio, but I just found it on my laptop the other night and thought I'd share!

Enjoy!

Hollie xx

There is something which completely fascinates me about the sea. I can’t decide whether it’s the undiscovered secrets that hide beneath the foamy, frothy waves, or if it’s just the sheer beauty of sea spraying up rocks and rippling, sparkling rolls of water.

I’ve spent the day in my favourite place by the ocean - the Roman ruins off the coast of El Campello. They are magnificent, engulfed by the sea and therefore drenched in its beauty.

The rooms of the historical structure teem with lustrous, shimmering fish that dart this way and that. Through snorkelling, I’ve uncovered a mysterious, bewitching world of dancing seaweed, swaying shining shadows of sun beams, and exquisite spiralling shells that house colourful crabs.

I stand on the rocky peak of the ruin, looking out onto the glistening ocean, watching as the water surges around me -trying to tickle my toes but unable to, due to the many rock pools it’s rushed into. Salt spray and sea breeze twirl and twist my hair into intricate knots which I know will take ages to detangle. The dying sun gently kisses my cheeks, warming the air with its fading but radiating glow. I close my eyes and breath in the fresh ocean scent, listening carefully to the whirling waves and bubbling broth of water.

It’s quiet now, just the natural sound of the sea as it jumps onto rocks and slides off them after. It was noisy earlier, with children tanned like caramel diving off high walls, plunging into the deep blue with a splash, screaming with squeaks of delight as they did so. I prefer the quiet, it’s easier to take it all in. The crystal-clear water, the sea mist that sparkles like diamonds, the dying sun which casts glittering golden gleaming rays.  Alone, my eyes can wander the waves and imagine what they like with no disruption. It’s amazing what you can imagine with lungs full of salty air. 

I imagine a creature, with hair down to her bellybutton, sliver like stars in colour. Her eyes are the shape of the moon, her irises a murky emerald to match the seaweed and finally, vast inky black pupils to finish.  Her lips look soft like petals, the shade of blooming coral. Her skin is pale like white sand. And just because I can, she has a tail that twinkles like a pearl, only it’s illuminated in colour with a jade-green hue. She sits on the ruin, on the edge just where it stops, her eyes gazing out at the horizon. From where I’m stood, she looks sad. Her mouth lays slightly open, and I see her chest rising and falling with a racing pace.

I tilt my head slightly and see in her left hand she holds a ragged piece of aquamarine. Sorry to be stereotypical -but they are believed to be treasured by mermaids. She grips onto it with an unforgiving force, her knuckles turning even paler.

Suddenly, she closes her mouth, pausing her rhythm and holding her breath. She raises her precious gem and starts sawing at her tail. Scraping the sharp edge up and down. Scales scatter the rocks and scarlet streams from her wounds. Tears gush down her face as a guttural gurgling scream escapes her lips. I shut my eyes and open them, begging my creation to fizzle away. She stays where she is. The water clouds with blood, swirling around her- the waves washing up her claret concoction.

She’s real. She’s alive. She’s killing herself.

She saws, and she saws, and I just stand there. Petrified at the picture I’m watching. The once beautiful, dazzling blue waters now run red. She carries on. Splitting her skin and cutting herself in two with a horrendous grinding sound as she carves into her bones. Then she stops, her green scales now crimson. She’s done it.

Gingerly she puts her hands down and starts pushing up to stand, agonising pain flashes across her face as she cries out, throwing her head back in agony. Our eyes meet, hers pleading for me to help. But I freeze, the view of the blood running down the rock twisting my stomach.

Before I know what I’m doing, my legs start moving and I run towards her. I stand by her side, helpless and hopeless, as she continues to bleed, getting weaker and weaker. The skin she’s cut into looks hacked and mangled. Her breathing starts to slow, so I crouch down, gently placing my hand under her head. Her eyes are even more beautiful up close, I can almost see the dancing seaweed in the emerald. The rock is tuning sticky under my feet. With a struggled exhale she lays still, and then melts through my fingertips into sea foam. The only proof of her, being the ruby waters.

I stay frozen, in shock for all I had witnessed.

A voice breaks my spell as I hear “We’re back” called out to me, followed by two rhythms of skipping footsteps. My parents stand smiling, and slightly sunburnt. I raise my head. They still smile.

“The water” I manage to whisper.

“Looks beautiful” replied my mum “the clearest I’ve ever seen”.

The Event that had an Ending

Coming at you with more writing today! This exercise was to create an ending which two strangers witness, and then write that ending from both of their points of views. First we have Luca followed by Eva.
Enjoy!
Hollie xx
TRIGGER WARNING: Themes of suicide.

When you make a promise, you kind of have to keep it. Even if you really, and I mean really, don’t want to. See, when I promised Mrs Giles that I’d walk her dog whilst her hip was getting better, I was thinking warm sunny walks, cider in hand maybe. Not so cold it could give me frost bite and so late in season the sun starts to set at 4. But… a promise is a promise.

So here I am, trudging through rotting leaves and stagnant puddles whilst my neighbour’s dog has a smashing time getting filthy. How can one small animal have so much energy? He darts around quickly, leaving a trail of smoke leaves behind. His little head never stops moving, he snaps it back and forth, ears swishing so violently I’m surprised they don’t hit his eyes. He has moments of stillness, his front paw raised elegantly as if he were a hunting dog, his wet black button nose twitching with all the different smells and scents… and then he’s off again.

He’s having one of his moments when he starts to whine, a shrill sound which makes my stomach go all uneasy, and then he races off. Away with the path and through the tangles of nettles and thorns. Shit. I race after him, feeling sharp stinging pain across my legs as I battle with the weeds of the woods. I slip and splash into the gooey dirt, it clings to my hands as I push off the ground and start running again. I come to a clearing and see the dog sat at the bottom of an old oak tree next to a muddy shoe, twigs tangled deep into his fur. His head is fixed staring upwards as his little bubble eyes watch something carefully.

I try to see what he’s fixated on and then suddenly I see her. A girl, high in the tree, dressed in a flowing white dress which whips viciously in the cold wind.

I shout out “Hello?”.

She turns around and I watch as she slips. I see the panic in her movements as she claws at the tree trunk and then hugs it dearly.

“I’m sorry! I… are you okay?”.

She moves carefully, slowly standing straight, arms outstretched for balance.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” I offer to her.

Finally, she looks down. Her hair appears windswept and messy, as though she’s been up there for hours.

“I really am sorry”. I call up to her.

“It’s fine.” She replies, although it’s so quiet it’s hardly a whisper.

“What… what are you doing up there?”.

“I…” she starts, but then snaps her mouth shut. I watch her as she stares around for a second, carefully moving her body so she doesn’t slip again. “I’m saying goodbye.”. She finishes and then she leaps off.

She looks like a white feather as she tumbles to the ground, it appears in slow motion at first, her dress rippling and her hair reaching for the sky. But then it speeds up and there’s a gruesome crunch as she lands amongst the leaves.

I am queen of the world. The sun paints me the most beautiful picture, using bright oranges, pinks and reds, swirling and twirling the paint so it makes a kaleidoscope of colour in the sky. The birds dash and dart around me, serenading me with their joyful songs, whilst squirrels chase each other, their bouncy fuzzy tails whipping quickly through the air as they jump and dive. The world is truly beautiful.

I shut my eyes and just breathe deeply. The air is clean and fresh, sweet smelling of pine needles and moss. All I can hear is the sounds of the forest. No cars, no shouting, no sirens, just nature.

I look down at myself, I tried to dress for the occasion, but my clothes are now torn and muddy -but that just makes them more perfect. My white dress dances in the evening breeze, waltzing around my legs and showing gentle pools of green stains. My shoes are doused in sludge, so I just kick them off. I watch them tumble to the ground and then bounce amongst the leaves. My toes are now free. They wiggle and explore the branch, feeling the gentle softness of emerald moss to then the harsh abrasiveness of the wood itself, its bark flaking and then falling like feathers to the earth bellow.

“Hello?”

I whip my head around to see my intruder but turn too quickly. I feel my balance wobble and desperately scrape my hands around the tree trunk. I can feel splinters burring deep beneath my nails and cry out. But I’m steady. I’m fine. I can hear my heart thumping in my ears and take a second to gulp down some air. I cautiously spread my legs wider, taking time to find comfortable, sturdy footing.

“I’m sorry! I… are you okay?”

I dig my fingers into the bark of the trunk and fix my posture so I’m standing straight.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Finally, I fix my eyes on my disturber. He’s lanky and stands tall, his clothes hang off him rather than fitting him and he has a small panting dog at his feet.

“I really am sorry”.

“It’s fine.” I call down.

“What… what are you doing up there?”.

“I…” I start, but don’t know how to finish. What am I doing up here? Admiring the view? Bird watching? Going on an adventure? Checking out the local art? “I’m saying goodbye.”.

It’s now or never, he’ll just try to stop me. I smile at him and leap.

I feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole as the air whizzes past me and I see different shapes and colours. The friendly face of a blackbird, its orange beak glowing in the setting sun, the sage smear of living leaves to then the burnt reds of crisping husks, the shadows of branches against the petal pink sky, the…