Netherlands Photo Diary.

The Pumpkin Patch.

Yesterday, my mum, a family friend and I visited Slindon's pumpkin patch and display.
If you've never been to Slindon before, think of a teeny tiny, picturesque village, and you've got Slindon.

Every October they put on an amazing display of pumpkins, all layed out to create a picture. This year they made a big snakes and ladders, but previous years have included a lifeboat, a spitfire and birds and bees.
Next to the patch, there's a little pottery barn selling homemade brooches, ornaments and magnets, and just down the road there's a "pumpkin cafe" aka the church's DIY cafe with homemade soup, cakes and biscuits.
And at the top of village there's the year-round, locally run village cafe and shop, selling all sorts of homemade goodies.

We try and visit every year, as it's always a great day out, and I always recommend it to people.
Every October, the beautiful village of Slindon gets filled choc-a-block with people, so expect to park at the bottom of the hill and to have a walk up, but trust, me, it's 100% worth it!

Much love.

♥

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Listening to: Watching Stranger Things.

Autumn Walks.

I got a new camera last weekend and when I haven't been at work, I've been playing around with it.

I used to love photography. I still do.
For a few years now, I've mainly been playing with 80's film cameras, disposables, polaroid or just snapping on my phone. I kind of just stopped doing digital photography
I've got to get used to focusing, angles, ISO, and even editing  again. Here's a few of my favourite photos I've taken so far. I've edited them a little, but I honestly can't remember half the things I used to do on photoshop. Sigh.

I've still got a ton to go through and edit. I guess I'll post some more after, but until then...

Much love.

♥

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Listening to: Ariana Grande & John Legend- Beauty & The Beast.

Skiathos x Skopelos.

After my trip to Bali, I spent 6 days at home  before hopping back on a plane to the beautiful Greek island of Skiathos!

Whilst Bali was filled to the brim with activities, water sports and driving round the island, Skiathos was a more laid back and relaxing holiday. My mum and I had booked this at the end of last summer, and we couldn't wait to explore more of the Greek islands. 

We spent most of the week on Skiathos, but hopped on a boat to go their neighbouring island, Skopelos, for two days. 

The two have gained recent popularity from the film, Mamma Mia, and I was worried they may have been ruined from tourists coming to see the filming locations. 

Fortunately, both islands remain mostly undisturbed and in their natural culture. 

With gorgeous, white buildings and independent boutiques, their towns are filled with the Greek lifestyle we crave. The beaches are covered in white sand with crystal clear waters making tiny, glassy waves. 

The food was incredible -we honestly didn't have a bad meal while we were there- and the locals are so friendly and happy to chat and help with any questions you may have. It's clear they are very proud of their Greek heritage. 

Honestly, there is something about the Greek islands that keep you wanting more. Maybe it's the beaches, the locals, the culture. Or maybe it's all of the above plus some more. 

.

All I know is, I'm craving the Greek way of life

♥

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Listening to: Fontaine Ivory- California Dreamin'.

Surf Sistas.

Two weeks ago I set out on a brave new adventure.
Travelling alone to Bali seemed like the scariest thing ever. And to be honest, it was. At 23, it's the biggest thing I have ever done.

I met up with the Surf Sistas crew at Denpasar airport, and had the most amazing ten days.
I've never laughed so much, or been filled with so much love and positivity.
Our days were filled with surfing, yoga and dancing. I met some of the most kindest and caring people, who looked after me and never failed to make me smile. And I know I'm going to be friends with them for a long time. But, maybe more importantly, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I set out on some mad adventure that my brain said I would never be able to do -I almost didn't. I did it though, and the world rewarded me with magic!

Good times. Good vibes.
Roll on the next surf adventure.
Team Single Ladies Forever!

I'll Make It To The Moon If I Have To Crawl.

Now, there are a select few bands that are on my bucket list to see: The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters and Nirvana. Al though that last one is definitly not going to happen.

Monday finally marked the night that I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers live.

My friend and I have been big fans of them for quite a few years now, so when they announced a UK tour for December, we jumped on the ticket websites. After, a long, stressful ticket-buying venture (I'm not even kidding, never spent so long trying to get tickets!) we finally managed to snag some.

We went up with her mum who is also a big fan of theirs, and had the best time ever.

Our seats were quite far back but they were dead centre, so we had a really great view. 

Babymetal were supporting and, well, they were an experience...

RHCP were incredible live! They have so much energy and sound exactly like the recordings. 

Absolutely perfect night and I'm so happy to finally cross these guys off my bucket list. 

If you ever get the chance to see RHCP live -do it! 

Much love.

♥

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Listening to: The Smashing Pumpkins- Luna.

Dear River Phoenix,

Dear River Phoenix,
I remember the first time I saw you. A cigarette half in your mouth, cheekbones carved for days and that close cropped mousy blonde hair.
Stand By Me was beautiful. But it was more than that- I fell in love with you.

I remember looking you up online and found all these pictures of you, some from Stand By Me, some from your other films. You were young, vulnerable yet tough at the same time. And then I saw that you'd died.
You were twenty three.
I think my heart skipped a beat, maybe  the world stopped for a second.

Whenever I watch your films, your interviews, there's an energy like I've never felt before.
I never met you, but I want to pull you out of the screen and talk with you for a while.
Nothing else. Just talk. About anything and everything.

You've been gone for as long as you were on this earth.
I turned twenty three last month. The same age as you will always be.
You were a boy. A boy who never got the chance to show the world everything else you had to offer.
I remember finding out that you'd died. That was the moment I realised what could happen to innocence.

I don't believe your death was fate, or karma, or destiny. Whatever you want to call it.
I believe it was a fluke, a mistake, a glitch. Something terrible that should never have happened.

I've learned so much about living because of you.
You were a beautiful soul, a work of art. Gentle and kind. Loving and caring.
Forever twenty three.
Thank you for everything.
♥

Peas In A Pod.

At the weekend my cousin/ best friend/ twin/ pea-in-a-pod came down with her boyfriend.
Jodie and Lewis live in Yorkshire so we only get to see each other once maybe twice a year if we're lucky. So when we do see each other we have to make the most of it. Fun skateboarding adventures, trips to cities, eating our body weight in the most unhealthiest foods we can find and laughing all the time.
My mum calls us peas in a pod because we look like each other, there's only a years age difference and we have a lot in common.
The photos above are from a disposable camera I had almost finished so we took the skateboards and went down the beach for breakfast on their first morning here.

I'm Coming Home.

All photos are mine please don't steal/ give credit if using!

Let's take a trip back to the summer of 2002.
I was 8, almost 9 years old. A band suddenly came onto the scene. Busted.
Over the next two and a half years, my friends and I became huge fans of theirs. They were the first band/artist I really got into. They broke up January 2005. We were 11 years old and we were heartbroken. I remember literally crying over that break up.
My friends and I were a bit too young and so weren't able to go and see them live during their time together.
Fast forward ten years and McBusted formed. (2 members of Busted with Mcfly) That was incredible. It was the next best thing. But it wasn't Busted.

About six months ago, Busted announced they had got back together. All three members. A tour and a (possible) new album were on the horizon.
Unfortunately, I've lost contact with a lot of the friends from primary school, but my best friend (who I've known since I was about 4) and I screamed and immediately brought tickets.

Wednesday comes. We take the 2 hour car journey to Bournemouth, get to the venue and continue to wait in the queue for 4 hours. My mum thinks we're mad for doing that but we've waited a decade- 4 hours was nothing.
We were at the front. We had a perfect view. We sang our hearts out and danced our feet off.
Oh, and we met Chris Bourne.

This is the band that got me into music, that introduced me to some of my favourite bands and shaped me into the person I am today. Yeah, this band had a huge impact on 10 year old me.

Everything about this night was perfect. Now I'm trying to figure out whether it was real...

♥

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Listening to: Watching 500 Seconds Of Summer.