If you were to say to me that I had to spend a year alone on any island in the world with all the supplies I needed (and perhaps my camera, a Kindle and a Wifi connection for my phone...), I would pick Ireland every time. I may be the tiniest bit biased, given that it's where I live and have done for my entire life, but I don't need to listen to all the tourist advertisements or my American friends wishing they could visit this beautiful island to known that Ireland is one of those rare, legend-filled places -- and the best parts are a two-hour bus journey away for me!
My friends took me to Ballycastle for my birthday, a small, gorgeous town in County Antrim that I spent twelve summers in as a child. I missed it so much!!
You know you've reached the countryside when tiny, adorable ponies frolick in fields of buttercups!
About ten minutes after hopping off the bus into Ballycastle for a few days holiday I felt like I was home and the worries of the city were a distant dream. It's a combination of sea air, clear light and familiar yet astonishing views (oh, how I sound like those adverts I hate!) that make you go "Nothing else matters more than going to a field and flying a kite, RIGHT NOW!"
I actually did just that, for about an hour. Woo!
Though I was with my group of amazing, hilarious friends for most of the two days and had so much laughter and fun, the most memorable moment for me was staying up until four in the morning, pulling boots and a hoodie over pyjamas, slinging my camera around my neck, grabbing my girlfriend Ren and hiking up to the edge of the cliffs (yes, right to the very edge!) just to see the sunrise.
Ignore what very much looks like my "Holy crap, I am pooped!" face - it's a happy face indeed!
I really hope everyone has a place like this that just blows a strong breeze through the mind and clears out all the cobwebs, even if it's just for the time it takes for the sun to come up...
Clare x
P.S. I've never been to any other islands...but I think once I can travel, I'll always come home. I belong here!
We had an awesome day today though, despite the cold weather! I got a lot of Christmas presents in, so now I only have small pieces to buy to complete everyones presents! I'm finally starting to feel very christmassy and content with the winter weather - it just adds to the effect (＾ω＾）
I did some shopping for myself too, which is always good! I finally got a decent winter coat - I had a light coat from Newlook which is nice but not at all suited to cold weather! This one is soooo freaking cosy, and wasn't at all expensive!
I loves it I do. I also bought myself a little necklace.
This isn't it, it's just something very similar (゜д゜;) I could not find my one...My one is that little bottle, with a tiny red gem heart inside it. I used to have the same little bottle with the words "Once upon a time..." written on a little scroll inside it, but I lost it ('A`)
Anyway, in muchly AWESOME news, in the very early hours of December 14th I took part in Freckled Nest's live crafty blog (which you can watch here!) during which I conversed and laughed with the awesome Leigh-Ann and the adorable Kyla while making a cute journal. My journal failed, but I really didn't care, because now I know how to do it, and now I know two awesome new people.
Thanks so much to Kyla for her little mention of me on her blog - I do feel a little weird being the "one sweet lady from Ireland who stayed up until 3am" though...
As you may notice, I don't sleep well!
Be excellent to each other!
