A Photo a Day...

Now whilst I have never been (and probably never will be) a professional photographer, I do love the fact that photos can capture a moment, an emotion or a relationship that would otherwise be lost to the 'mists of time.' I understand how clichéd that is, but it is the only way I can think of to explain my love for photos and what they represent. So I thought I would share my top 5 photos that I have taken and put on my Instagram account.

5. Reflection

I think I am more proud of the reflection in this photo than the actual events on it. I went to Lord's cricket grounds in London last year during the Ashes which is a big Cricket championship between England and Australia. Whilst there are a lot of imperfections in the rest of the photo I just love the reflection of the pitch in my sunglasses so it goes into my top 5.

4. The Globe

As an English Literature student, a love of Shakespeare is kind of compulsory, and the home of Shakespeare has to be the Globe theatre in London. Last year I was lucky enough to be invited to see Richard II, the stage was amazing with the old columns and stage covered in gold so it really gave off a feeling of the extravagance that Richard II was accustomed to :).

3. Medals and Remembrance

My family has always had a close connection to the Army. My Grandfather, father and now one of my brothers have all been (or still are) in the army with my Grandfather fighting in the second world war in the Black Watch. Every year we travel to France to participate in the remembrance services and my father wears his medals (pictured). Every medal and ribbon has a different meaning and I love seeing all of the different ones that the other veterans wear and asking which campaign or act they represent. I look at this photo and I see my father's history, the history of his regiment and I see the potential for anyone to become something great.

2. For days you cannot be bothered

I think everyone will join me in saying there are days when you just cannot be bothered and the idea of getting out of a nice warm bed and going to school/work just seems impossible. But whilst this photo may seem generic and boring, for me it represents the face that I can now post a photo without any makeup on and feel confident enough to post it on the internet. And sure, there's a filter on it and I was pulling a face, but I will always be proud of this.

1. Field of Corn

I love this photo so much because I took it on a family walk that we went on in October last year. There are a lot of fields near our house that are used for corn, They don't harvest it, but leave it in the field all year round for the local wildlife. And one day I decided to run through the fields of corn and felt like I was in a movie :). I love this photo so much because it reminds me of a wonderful evening and good times spent with my family.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you want to see more of my posts, my Instagram username is: milliefarquhar 

Xxx

Immortal Words

Hey guys,

So a couple of years ago I wrote this story, it was for a competition at school (I got third place!) and I thought I would share it with you. The basic idea was that we could write whatever we wanted about whoever, but it had to contain the phrase 'And with that, I picked up my pen and I began to write'. I am by no means a good writer but I would appreciate feedback. I thought I would post more stories and things I have written over the years because I never really show people what I write and a couple of my friends wanted to see what goes on inside my head when I do sit down and scribble in various notebooks, so without further ado, here is the first of my stories.

Immortal Words

It was raining, as usual, and as I sat by the window I looked out and traced the raindrops as they slid down the glass, clouding the world from me. For all I knew, it had ceased to exist. And in that moment I began to think; I thought about how the world passes us by every day turning, turning. Always turning in the black void of space, so old and rigid on her axis. Constantly moving forwards and never looking back. And I thought that our lives are a mere speck on the face of our planet. We are born, we live, we love and we die.

She would not remember us, how could she? There are hundreds of countries filled with billions of humans, how would she remember each and every one of us. We all pass so quickly; people move in and out of our own lives daily and we never look twice - they are simply there one minute and gone the next. A simple hello could have started millions of possibilities and yet we never remember their faces, we never get to know them and we never stop to look at anything other than what concerns ourselves. Each of us are too busy occupying our own tiny little worlds to stop and think about the consequences of that person being in our lives or us in theirs. We are like the rain, running down the smooth glass at an unstoppable pace, weaving through the trails of people that have been before but never stopping, always running, always.

And with that, I picked up my pen and I began to write.

I wrote about all those I had known, all those I had forgotten and all those I had yet to know. My dreams and hopes all poured onto the paper in front of me. Every laugh, love and smile were immortalised, a colourful reminder of the past in a world full of grey. And it is my gift to you, every time the rain clouds your vision of the colours of the world read my story and feel the colour return. This story is who I am, it is what has defined me, what has moulded me, what has turned me into who I am today. And when I am gone, my loved ones will remember me by my story. When they and all those who knew me are gone, my story will be the only thing of me that will remain. My body cannot live forever, but my words and my memory are immortal. You remember a person, not by their face or the sound of their voice. But by their deeds, what they did and how they did it. These things form our story. And in the end we are all stories, so let’s make it a good one.

Xxx

It's the Island Life for Me

Hey Guys,

So a post is long overdue and I thought I would share with you what I have been doing while I was away.

For the past month I have been living on an Island up in the North West of Scotland named Tanera Mor with no internet and no mobile phone signal, I have been going here for the past 18 years give or take a few and every time I see this place I feel an inexplicable sense of freedom, which is a bit bizarre given that once the boat leaves you are pretty stuck (not really, a boat is but a phone call away). But there is something enchanting about the heather covered hills and the rocky landscape that makes even the occasional rainy day unspeakably beautiful.

But Millie, I hear you ask, What do you do every day. Well esteemed reader I work in the Island's little café where baking and coffee making are the order of the day. I have always loved working there, as the people that come and visit the Island can be really interesting and fun to talk to. Last week I met a woman that had travelled around the world With nothing more than a guitar and a back-pack. She used her guitar to busk her way through America and even managed to get a job on a cruise ship to Tokyo as an entertainer/waitress, when she returned home she realised that she had spent so much time learning about the rest of the world that she hardly knew anything about her own country. And that made me think about how negatively I think about the UK, many people consider it to be this dull and cramped place where it is either raining or pouring when in fact we have so many brilliant and beautiful places available to us.

One of our busiest days

There are also occasional chances to see amazing wildlife, Tanera is quite popular among the bird community and sometimes, just sometimes, something truly magical happens. Last week we saw a huge pod of dolphins (about 150 dolphins) in our 'back yard', so naturally we went out to see them and instead of seeing them run away as so many animals do whenever humans come nearby, they changed direction and headed straight towards us, and for about an hour we were in fits of childish giggles at the sight of the dolphins playing in our wake, especially the young calves breaking with their mothers. It is a memory I hope never to forget but hopefully it will not be my only experience with them.

On my walk back home yesterday I decided to take a detour up one of Tanera's many hills and was greeted with by far one of the most gorgeous views I have ever seen. It was one a day with very little clouds and even less wind and the entire sea looked like a massive mirror and ironically sat and just wrote for about two hours. I can honestly say it was one of the happiest moments of my life. Simply because in that little window of time, I felt no stress, no anxiety about the future or events of my past and I felt no responsibility or pressure. I was just happy, at least until I realised I forgot to put any suncream on and retreated indoors to nurse my new sun burn. 

Unfortunately my adventures here end tomorrow, and I will be returning to the world of shops and reliable internet. But I shall forever be an Islander and I eagerly await my next trip up.

Should anyone want any information about staying in one of the Island's five self-catered holiday lets then go to www.summer-isles.com I whole-heatedly recommend it, even if it is just a day trip from Ullapool or Achilitbuie, it is truly an awe inspiriting place to see.

Books, Books and More Books

Oh Hey There,

So a couple of months ago, I applied to study English Literature at various UK Universities and as of a week ago, I will be studying English Literature at Reading university. AHHH!!! I am so excited.

Due to the fact I will be studying Literature I have been reading a hell of a lot more that I was before...Plus the fact that I haven't really got anything better to do.

The best way to read I find is to alternate between a 'modern' book and classic. This means that I have slowly worked my way through a wide range of genres and writers that I wouldn't normally consider reading, I thought that I would give you a list of my favourites from the past few months and maybe you could give me a few recommendations.

The Name Of The Wind + The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss

• These books are beautifully written and are by far the best books I have read in a while...I can't really explain the story but honestly...anyone will love these books...There is romance, comedy, adventure and action...Try them

The Throne of Glass series - Sarah J. Maas

• I put these books into one of my favourites and I cannot get enough of them...The most recent installment was the Heir of Fire which was published in September and now I am secretly kicking myself for having to wait for 6 months before the next book is published....uggg

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

• Self explanatory really...this is the original romance novel and I love it

The Three Musketeers + The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

• Whilst these books are written in 'Olde' French translated into English they can be very difficult to read. I mean it took me several days just to get a basic understanding of what he wrote....It's a bit like learning Shakespeare just instead of a play it's couple of books that are 300 pages long.

So any recommendations you have will be brilliant...i'm looking for a new book to read so fire away

Xxx

#DearMe

Alright, so I haven't posted in a while, but hey. Hopefully, i'll be a bit more regular again...

The #DearMe campaign was launched recently and with several people posting what they would tell their younger selves, I thought I would hop on the bandwagon and maybe help a few people out in the process.

Ok, so last year, I had my first panic attack, and since then I have had several bouts of anxiety. And at the time I thought that it would be better if I didn't tell anyone because I was scared of what they might think of me...Things like 'She's just feeling sorry for herself' and 'it's a cry for attention'. I kept it in for so long that I had to leave university because I couldn't face going to lectures and being told that I was stupid.

But I thought that if I wanted to impart my wisdom on a younger me, the me from a year ago would be too close to the me of today (if that makes any sense, it did in my head). But then I began to think, it seems to be human nature to worry about what others think. But before I went to secondary school I never really cared. But then again, I loved my Prep school, and I loved the people in it (no...not like that). It seemed to be only when I became a teenager and was surrounded by people I didn't know and that wanted me to look, dress and act like them, that I first became so aware of other people's thoughts about me, and as a result my self confidence plummeted. I hadn't really thought anything about it until I came upon this little advert. But I do not think that all of these things happen totally because of Puberty (and obviously it doesn't just happen to girls), I think that the change from one school to another is always scary, and being plunged into a completely unknown environment with new people never really helps. But anyway here is the advert, have a look and maybe a think.

But I digress, The one thing I would tell the younger me is that You shouldn't care about what anyone thinks about you, the only person's opinion that matters is your own. If you have to change who you are to make other people happy then they aren't worth it. It sounds so unoriginal and cheesy but it is so true, I wish I had told my family about how I was feeling at the time instead of keeping it in, because they would have told me the truth, and maybe I wouldn't be petrified of new situations and other people's views. I hope this has helped, if it has why not share it about. what would you tell your younger self? I'd love to know.

Xxx

Lush Haul

Hey Guys,

I went shopping yesterday and I spend a lot of time in Lush with their new Limited Edition stuff (and a bit of their older stuff) and I thought I would share with you what I bought.

Secret Garden Bath Bomb

Skys and Fluffy White Clouds Bubble Bar

Brightside Bubble Bar

Comforter Bubble Bar

Ultraviolet Bubble Bar

Rose Bubble Bar

Cream Candy Bath Bubble Bar

Mother Superior Bubble Bar

January Favorites

Hey Guys,

Now that I am posting again I thought that I would share with you a few of my favourite things from the month of January.

Beauty

Recently my skin decided to react to all the makeup I had...which whilst annoying meant I was able to update and improve my makeup collection and here are some of my favorites.

1. Cream Eye Shadows and Eye Shadow Crayons

I have never really used or owned any eyeshadows, crayons and creme eyeshadows are really good for fully covering your eye lid and require very little skill to apply. My favorites are the Laura Mercier Caviar eyeshadow sticks and the shades are simply to die for and last virtually all day.

2. Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara with Argan Oil

Ok the argan oil is definitely a bit of a gimmick. But I have really been surprised by this mascara. When choosing which mascara to buy, I will always choose mascaras that promise eyelash length over volume and this mascara delivers. It creates a non-clumpy natural look and it's great for an everyday look.

3. Tanya Burr Lip Gloss

I have been loving a lot of Youtuber's stuff recently and in my opinion the best are these lip glosses. I have a couple of them and I think that they will be my favorites for a long time. The wear time on these are impressive and they feel and even taste amazing. Yesterday I spent about 12 hours out of the house and only had to reapply my lip gloss two or three times...Pretty impressive, There are about 20 shades available and each of them have cute names like 'I Found Nemo' and 'Picnic in the Park', which are my favorites and are brilliant for an everyday use.

4. L'Oréal Lip Stain

When I go out for a meal or on a night out (Rare though these occasions are), I tend not to use lip glosses but I don't really like the feel of lip sticks. Lip stains are a sort of cross between both and provide lasting colour and when applied they feel like lip glosses.

Films, Books, Music and Games

1. McBusted Album

I was never really a fan of Busted or McFly but I watched an episode of the Graham Norton Show where McBusted performed 'Get Over It' and I really enjoyed it, so I though 'why not?' and bought the album, and I really like all of the songs.

2. All Things Halo

With the re-release of the Halo games for the Xbox One, I have fallen in love with all the Halo related things in my house. The Halo Legends film, Halo: Forward Unto Dawn, Halo: Nightfall and the Halo books by Eric Nylund are all amazing and beautifully done. And if you like the Halo games, you should check them out.

3. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

Ok... if a book about a library doesn't sound appealing then a book about a Library that occupies one dimension and sends agents into other realities to harvest fiction. It has Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves and the Fae. It follows the story of Irene, a junior librarian that is sent to an unstable reality to acquire a book that everybody is after. It's a relatively quick read and well worth a look.

4. Jupiter Ascending

As a little treat, I went to the IMAX cinema yesterday and I loved this film. I always thought it would be good because it was directed and written by The Wachowskis, plus it stars Sean Bean so is instantly awesome in my book. It is beautifully filmed and it is easy to see the work that the Wachowskis put into it. I admit it is not Eddie Redmayne's best performance but he did make a good villain. However, the plot is very difficult to explain so i'll just put the trailer in...that'll help.

Stuff

1. Hand Warmers

With all the cold weather we have been having, a little hand warmer is really useful. Over the years I have amassed a little collection and they are great for keeping your hands warm whilst waiting for the car to warm up.

2. Avocado on Toast with Boiled Eggs

Alright, this isn't really Stuff, but I thought having only one thing in a food section would look silly. I've been waking up ridiculously early every day to swim for an hour and when I get back, I like to eat this, I like to tell myself that it is nutritious and slightly more healthy than a bowl of Golden Nuggets.

So that's it...I hope you liked it, If you have anything that you liked this month why not tell me what they are.

Xxx