Brisbane

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not much of a city person. I’m partial to a day trip to London or a weekend break in Europe, but it’s rare that I find a city that I consider to be truly special. Brisbane, sadly, failed to make it onto my rather fastidious list of exceptions.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy my time there, I had a lovely couple of days, but I felt like the city was seriously lacking in a character that could distinguish it from all the other metropolises of the world. My first day was spent walking through the centre, consisting of all the major high street names, and riding the ferry up and down the river, taking in the skyline; with a few exceptions, like the impressive Story Bridge and the old Treasury Building, there is nothing particularly exciting to spot. That night myself and a few friends sampled one of the hundreds of ‘asian fusion’ restaurants in the city, then headed on a night out in Brisbane’s answer to Soho. I think it was primarily this first day that had me believing Brisbane was all style and no substance. I was struggling to find a personality amongst the suits and the skyscrapers.

The following day, I crossed the river to soak up some sun by the lagoon - the riverside pool and man-made beach which attempts to compensate for the city being set away from the coast (not Brisbane’s fault, of course, but disappointing for a beach bum like me). Here in south bank, I started to notice a little more charm than I had in the centre: tourists were seamlessly blending in with locals; the sound of buskers nearby broke through the chatter of friends hanging out in cafes and on the beach; and lines of market stalls were selling unique souvenirs and local produce. Finally, a real atmosphere! A sense of life, not just humdrum busyness.

The evening quickly came around again, and some friends and I travelled across town to the Powerhouse, a performing arts centre, to watch a comedy show. The show, annoyingly, turned out to be an old listing that hadn’t been taken off the website, so no laughs for us. However, we were determined to do anything but head back to the hostel, so we decided on a BBQ by the river. We swung by a supermarket to grab some sausages and got back on the ferry to Kangaroo Point. We set up in a really beautiful spot, right beside Story Bridge, which was adorned in red lights. By the time we’d arrived and set up the sun had long gone, and none of us had anticipated the drop in temperature, nor prepared for alfresco dining. Pardon my Aussie, but it was bloody freezing! It must have seemed pretty funny to onlookers, a bunch of tourists in t shirts and shorts, huddling around a BBQ that barely had enough heat to cook some sausages, let alone warm up four bodies.

However, standing there, admiring the lights shining in the cityscape, I began to realise why Brisbanites are so fond of their city. A local we got chatting with on the ferry summed it up perfectly: Brisbane is a wonderful place to live, but a boring place to visit. For a home, it’s got everything you could want and need to lead a fun, comfortable life. For a holiday, it fails to provide anything especially thrilling. I felt like I was finally warming up to it (metaphorically, I mean. Physically I was shivering and definitely turning blue), and started to regret that I had to leave the following morning. I guess first impressions aren’t everything after all, and some places just grow on you. It still hasn’t made it onto the list, though.

Stay tuned, next stop: Byron Bay.

Noosa & Fraser Island

After a short surf stop in the tiny town of Agnes Water, I moved on to Noosa, a very pretty location that has the sophistication of a luxury resort with the soul of a surfer’s paradise. Boutique shops, stylish cafes and sleek bars are undeniably a draw to the area, but the highlight for me was the natural beauty of the beaches and national parks that are here in abundance. A walk through forests of eucalyptus and paperbark trees provides an immersive experience within Australian nature; for the eagle-eyed among us, there’s even the chance to spot koalas lounging about in the canopy. Beyond the trees, I came out onto cliff tops with stunning views out to sea, the perfect place for watching dolphins as they pass by the coast.

This is an incredibly popular spot for running and cycling, and beaches such as Tea Tree Bay and Sunshine Beach are particular favourites for surfers. But what most people travel this trail for are the Fairy Pools. Sounds pretty magical, right? Well, perhaps the name sets them up to be a bit of a disappointment, as they are, in essence, just very large rock pools. Having said that, they are quite beautiful, and extremely ‘instagrammable’. When I arrived, there were around six visitors enjoying the pool, which I thought looked a little cramped, but after an hour or so I realised I had been relaxing in relative peace, as a hoard of onlookers had formed to take snaps of the supposedly serene swimming pools. I decided to leave them to their photoshoots and carried on along the coast path to see the viewpoint known as Hell’s Gate. On this sunny spring day it was hardly hellish, but I can only imagine how ferocious the sight must be in stormy weather, with huge waves swelling below and crashing into the steep walls of the cliffs.

For many travellers, Noosa serves as the base for trips over to Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. Huge lakes are probably the main attractions on Fraser; I slid down a truly giant sand dune to Lake Wabby, home to tiny fish that nibble at your skin (in a nice way, I suppose), and some catfish who are… not so little. Then there is Lake McKenzie, unsurprisingly the most visited place on the whole island. The sand here is almost as pure as that on Whitehaven beach in the Whitsundays, and the water transitions sharply from vivid turquoise in the shallows to the deepest blue as the sand bank drops off suddenly, giving way to a depth of 22 feet! Other highlights included gliding down Eli Creek, a lazy river of freezing freshwater, and watching an adorable dingo pup have a nose around our cars. There are practically no real roads on Fraser, only long stretches of beach and rough trails through the hinterlands, so the best way to get around is by 4X4. The sheer size of the island means there is a lot of driving to do, but that quickly became part of the fun as we bounced over tree roots and hidden dips, and narrowly missed waves as we sped along the shore.

Camping on the island was certainly a memorable experience. Since landing in Australia, I have been told repeatedly that “everything here wants to kill you”, and Fraser is a prime example. On the first night we had dingos patrol the perimeters of our campsite, and two spiders were removed from tents whose bite could literally corrode your skin. Ah, Australia. It’s safe to say my sleep that night was less than relaxing. However, being all together in such a unique environment brought such a brilliant atmosphere to the group, and we spent each evening chatting, listening to music, and playing card games - and of course, drinking goon.

My only complaint about my time on Fraser was the lack of attention given to the island’s Indigenous significance. This is the ancestral home of the Butchulla tribe, at one time with a population of thousands until the Europeans began colonisation. Indian Head, a headland popular with tourists for its panoramic views across the island, actually has an extremely dark past; in 1851, Butchulla people, potentially hundreds and mostly women and children, were led up to Indian Head and forced to jump to their deaths. This massacre is one of the most important moments in Fraser’s history, yet there is nothing on Indian Head to commemorate or inform visitors of the event, and our tour guide even seemed hesitant to tell us about it. It felt somewhat immoral to me to be taking selfies on a site where mourning is probably more appropriate, yet that is exactly what occurs here every day, and will continue until the Butchulla tribe receive the recognition, and apologies, for the atrocities that happened to their people on their land.

It seems a shame to end this post on such a sombre note, especially seeing as I did have a really fun few days on Fraser Island. However, the Aboriginal history is a reason I came to Australia in the first place, so to me it felt important to highlight. And I don’t believe acknowledging the past has to take away from the joy that can be had in the present, it just creates a more truthful and fulfilling experience. Just a note from a happy traveller to the tour guides of Australia!

Stay tuned, next stop: Brisbane.

The Whitsundays

About a week into my travels, I arrived in the sunny resort town of Airlie Beach. With only one full day here I explored a little, but beyond the main street lined with lively bars, busy eateries and shops dedicated to beach-goers, there wasn’t much to discover. The main reason people flock to this luxurious little town is to access the Whitsunday Islands, an archipelago comprised of 74 (mostly) uninhabited islands covered in forest and bushland, lined by some of the purest sand beaches in the world and home to some of Australia’s most impressive marine life. I was no exception, and I eagerly awaited my turn to see this spectacle.

The only way to explore the islands is by boat, and it’s a particularly popular destination for sailing. So, along with 24 other excited travellers, I hopped on board the impressive Maxi Yacht ‘Broomstick’ and off we went, leaving Airlie behind us for a couple of days. I was keen to have a hands-on experience on board, as much as possible anyway, so as we reached the edge of the harbour I volunteered to hoist the main sail. It’s so much harder than it looks though, that sail weighed an absolute tonne! (No, not a precise measurement, but I was too busy trying to regain feeling in my arms afterwards to ask exactly how heavy it was). It took 4 of us in the end to get it fully raised, so the sense of achievement among us when it was up and we sailed ahead was as high as the sail itself. While our captain Mikey and his expert crew guided us smoothly to our first destination of the day, the rest of us relaxed on the deck in the late afternoon sun, getting to know the bunch of strangers that we’d be sharing very close quarters with for the next two days.

It wasn’t long before we arrived at Hook Passage, the chosen spot to watch the sunset. Here, we were joined by the other two yachts in the company for what’s known as a raft up - all three boats tied together to create one massive deck and one massive party. It just so happened that on one of the other boats they were filming promotional footage for the company, which is why we were fortunate enough to experience something so unique. We also jumped (literally) at the chance for a dip in the sea before the sun went down completely, animatedly throwing ourselves off the side of the boat and plunging into the water below, as clear and as motionless as glass. A bit chilly back onboard, but we soon warmed up with some delicious food and a few glasses of goon (famous Australian boxed wine, although to call it wine is generous - if you know, you know). An evening full of laughter and chatting turned to night before we knew it, so we returned below deck to our cosy bunks for some rest ahead of our busy day to come.

The next morning, I was awake in time to catch the last of the sunrise, the warm hues illuminating the islands around me in a golden light, and reflecting on the water’s perfectly still surface. The first stop of the day was Tongue Bay on the eastern side of Whitsunday Island, the largest of all the islands here. We reached the shore by dingy and were led on a bush walk to a viewpoint, looking out over Whitehaven Beach and the neighbouring bays and islands. The view rendered every one of us speechless. My words will never do its brilliance justice, nor will my photos ever fully capture the beauty that we were struck with. Bright white sand swirled in smooth curves beneath the most vividly turquoise water I have ever, and surely will ever, see. The only movement by the sea was gentle lapping onto the shoreline, and the ripples created by swimmers enjoying the blissful scenery. From where we were stood, everyone below us on the beach looked like tiny specs, insignificant to the vast network of inlets in front of them. In awe of what we were seeing, we were all itching to get down to the beach - after a few obligatory photo shoots, of course.

We waded through the thick sand, as soft as flour, heading towards the water. This sand is the purest in the world, being 99% silica; so pure it can remove scratches from watch faces, clean silver jewellery, and exfoliate the skin leaving it feeling brand new. Its purity also means it doesn’t get hot, even after a full day under the intense Australian sun, making it even easier to spend hours wandering and sunbathing. From the viewpoint I spotted some stingrays, known to dwell in the shallows along Whitehaven, so of course that’s where I headed first. After a little while spent looking, not one but three stingrays appeared out of nowhere, gliding gently around our feet. One buried itself in the sand in front of me, proving that I was wise not to touch the ray-shaped rock I had been looking at earlier on… Their camouflage was unnervingly effective, but they were clearly very comfortable with humans passing through their habitat. In fact, their ease with our presence just highlighted their peaceful nature; like most animals, they pose no threat if they feel no threat themselves.

Unsurprisingly, a couple of hours spent in this heavenly place flew by, and it was time to get back onboard our Broomstick. We snorkelled twice that day, and our first stop was Mackerel Bay. I was lucky enough to see a turtle again, although I was so saddened to see people chasing it and diving down to touch its shell. I’ll admit that I can be a little overprotective when it comes to nature, but an action that may seem harmless on the surface was actually causing the animal undue stress, which is simply irresponsible and disrespectful. The joy of seeing these animals in the wild should come from just that: seeing them. There’s an arrogance in people that makes them think they can play an active part in any other species’ lives, without impact or consequence, which I think is a shame. Anyway, I don’t want this to become a rant, I prefer to keep it as a longwinded ramble! On we went to our last snorkelling location, Hayman Island, the northernmost point of the Whitsundays and a haven for fish. We jumped in, right into the middle of a school of tropical fish. They were absolutely everywhere, many more than I’d ever witnessed on one reef! It’s impossible to know just how long I spent in the water that time round, but I’m so pleased I stayed in for as long as I did, because the best part was just to come. The few of us who remained were rewarded for our endurance, as a group of 9 humphead parrotfish made their way around the reef. These incredible fish can grow to a length of 1.5 metres (almost as big as me. Those who know me may think that’s not a lot, and they’d be right, but this was a fish so, pretty big), and weigh up to 75kg! Their green scales shimmered when the light caught them, and their beady eyes watched us swim alongside them, as they used their bony beaks to munch on the coral. Once they got used to us they would swim on all sides of us, coming within inches of our bodies without too much care. It was an exhilarating experience; I had never swam with any creature as big as that before, and it’s a memory and a feeling I’ll hold onto forever.

We ended our last day on the boat with more amazing food, a beautiful sunset, some salsa-dancing lessons from our Spaniard on board, and just a little bit more goon. It was a wonderful adventure filled with awesome moments and the best bunch of people I could have hoped for. If you’ve made it this far through the longest blog yet, congratulations! I’m going to tie it up here, although I could have gone on indefinitely about my magical time in the Whitsundays. I hope everyone gets the chance to witness this incredible place.

Stay tuned, next stop: Noosa and Fraser Island.

Magnetic Island

With a bus booking that mysteriously deleted itself, it wasn’t a strong start to my journey to Magnetic Island. Thankfully, though, this was the only blip on an otherwise uneventful trip and I made it to the hostel stress-free. Once I had checked in I dropped my bags off in the room and headed straight out with a group from the hostel on a sunset hike to Hawkings Point, one of the best locations on Magnetic to view the landscape as the sun goes down. The short but steep hike was a perfect introduction to the island, the golden light softening all its edges and illuminating the crystal clear waters and dense forest. On the way we even saw a wild koala, perched high up in a gum tree, emitting a low and loud grumbling sound (what we think was a mating call). Magnetic Island is known for having one of the highest populations of wild koalas in Australia, so I was thrilled to see my first so early on in my visit.

I only had one full day here, so the following morning I set off with a few girls I’d met the previous night to explore the area. We bought a bus ticket for $7 that would get us from south to north and all the way back again, a rare bargain in an otherwise expensive part of the world. We began with another hike to some of Magnetic’s hidden beaches, Balding Bay being our choice. The hot and sweaty trek was well worth it, as we found ourselves almost entirely alone in the sun-soaked cove, except for a couple of naturists wondering around freely… I admired their boldness, and it gave us a good giggle. The sand was so fine and soft, and the water such a vivid blue, it felt like we had stumbled upon a secret paradise. After around an hour of paddling and sunbathing, our lovely private beach started to get a little busier, so we decided it was time to move on to the next stop.

I had been told about the Forts Walk by a woman I met in Cairns; she advised me that this was the best place on the island to see wild koalas, and since I kicked off my Magnetic experience with one hanging out in a tree in someone’s front garden I was sure we’d find them here with ease. Well, it turns out koalas are much harder to find when they’re not making a lot of noise, and in the middle of the afternoon they tend to be silently snoozing. However, about half way along the route I finally spotted not one, but two grey lumps curled around a tree trunk; a mother and baby blending in pretty seamlessly with the greyish-white bark of a eucalyptus tree, it now made sense why they had been so hard to see. Further down the track we found our third koala, this time much closer to the ground but, again, having a nap. Even though we caught them at their least active time, it was such a treat to see them in their natural habitat. A firm tick on my Aussie to-do list.

Onto our final stop then: Arcadia. A walk down to the coast brought us to a rocky shoreline, and here we discovered the rock wallabies. Although still wild, they are known to feed from your hand if you remain patient and still. A lady on the bus kindly gave me a bag of wallaby feed, which attracted them at first; one fed directly from my hand, holding my fingers in it’s tiny paws (so cute!). However, they were clearly bored by it, preferring fresh food such as carrots and strawberries instead. Luckily, my friend had brought some carrots along, so we fed a few more and had plenty of photo opportunities with these photogenic creatures. To risk sounding ‘basic’, they were unbelievably adorable, but it was a relief to see that they were still very timid, meaning they aren’t completely trusting of humans despite so much close interaction with them.

I’m quickly discovering (but not entirely surprised to find) that the nature of Australia is what I’m loving the most, and Magnetic Island has certainly maintained the standard set by Cairns for wildlife experiences. I know I’ve made life-long memories here, and can’t wait to make more as I venture south.

Stay tuned, next stop: The Whitsundays.

Cairns

I can’t believe I’m writing this already, the time here has flown by! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived in Cairns, not knowing much about the city itself, but it’s been the most amazing starting point. Every day has been so different to the next, with rainforest walks, diving in the Great Barrier Reef, mixed in with some botanical gardens and lots of wildlife-watching. Firstly, the people here have been so kind and welcoming, taking the time to talk to me when I’ve been on my own, giving me advice about all the best places their country has to offer. It’s no wonder why this city has such a laid-back atmosphere, which flooded over me as soon as I landed, and so far hasn’t left me. Secondly, it’s beautiful! Set by a lagoon with a backdrop of mountains, carpeted with rainforest, and with wildlife by the bucket-load, it would be easy to spend hours on the esplanade admiring the scenery. I’ve never been to a city with such diverse wildlife blending with urban living, and so far I have been treated to countless bats flying by the balcony each night, and giant pelicans soaking up the sun by the boardwalk.

On my second day I took a tour of the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, travelling north from Cairns. To kick off the experience, we were taken on a cruise along the Daintree River, hoping to spot some of the resident crocodiles. Almost immediately we found one of the largest crocs known in the river, chillingly named Scarface. We watched him float beneath mangroves for a while, taking pictures and videos excitedly as he remained unmoving in his sheltered spot. He began to move, swimming silently through the water and then slowly disappearing below the surface. Cue involuntary cries from everyone on board, shuddering at the eery sight. As we journeyed down the river we were incredibly lucky to spot at least 4 more crocodiles, a real win considering the unpredictability of wildlife watching. From there we headed to Cape Tribulation, discovering the brilliant white sand bordered by towering palm trees, making it easily one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. Next, we took a dip in a natural, freshwater pool and then wandered through the rainforest, spotting a red-bellied black snake slithering beneath the boardwalk we were crossing. Then it was time to head home, with a few stops at the best lookout points along the way, as well as a chance sighting of a cassowary; a large bird with a black body, blue face and boney structure protruding from it’s skull, like something straight out of Jurassic Park (with the potential to be just as deadly). It was a long day, 12 hours overall, including a lot of driving, but it was worth every mile for the memories alone.

Then came reef day. I could barely contain my excitement as I arrived at the boat on a sunny Monday morning, ready to see the Great Barrier Reef up close and in person! This is something I have dreamed of doing for years, and top of my Aussie to-do list. It was a slight moral dilemma, as I know intense tourism hasn’t been good for the overall health of the ecosystem, so I knew if I was going to go it would be with an eco certified company who took the reef and its inhabitants seriously. I was happy to discover that it was mandatory to pay a $20 reef tax fee, which every boat travelling out to the area must cover in order to be licensed. A price well worth paying for the survival of one of the world’s most diverse and important habitats. So, decision made, it was time to head out. The ride out there was far from smooth sailing, the boat rocking from front to back for pretty much the entirety of the 1 and a half hour journey. I managed to keep sickness at bay by staying upstairs in the fresh air, but it was clear I was one of the lucky ones when, as we arrived at our first destination, I ventured below deck. Lots of pale faces and paper bags putting a dampener on the eager spirits from earlier. However, as the boat anchored and finally came to stillness, everyone’s stomachs settled and excitement built once again. The water was bright turquoise and crystal clear, and I couldn’t wait to get in.

I was signed up to do a dive, but I was in a later group so had time to snorkel first. Schools of tiny fish were the first thing I saw, then coral and anemones, and then fish of all shapes, sizes and colours. I watched parrot fish munch on the algae covering the reef, and followed a perfect line of cuttlefish, transfixed by their gentle movements and intricate markings. I have no idea how long I was in the water for, but soon enough it was time for my dive. Having only done a pool dive before, I had an idea of what it would feel like to be breathing under water but had no experience in a proper ocean setting. My instructor was brilliant, taking myself and the two others in my group through every step with patience and skill. And it was incredible! We swam down to the reef floor where we were surrounded by tropical fish, then taken to a small anemone, home to Nemo himself. We began to see from the perspective of the fish, noticing the finer details of the coral, how they differ from one variety to another, and feeling the weightlessness of being immersed in the water. Back on the boat, and onto the next location - Sudbury sand cay. This was my favourite out of the two, because I saw turtles! I even swam with them for a while. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life, seeing the turtle fly through the water so gracefully. I also found a blue-spotted ray and saw so many more marine species, but the turtles topped it all. I returned to the boat physically drained but completely elated. Undoubtedly, it was one of the best days of my life to date, and it’ll be a tough one to beat.

I feel so incredibly fortunate to have begun my travels with such unique adventures, in such a beautiful part of the world, and it has just made me so much more excited for what’s still to come.

Stay tuned, next stop: Magnetic Island.

LDN - AUS

Yesterday I embarked on my biggest adventure yet; for two months I’ll be travelling solo around Australia and New Zealand, something I’ve never done before and, undoubtedly, to my mum’s horror. Having booked the flights months ago, on a bit of a whim if I’m honest, I’ve had a tumultuous relationship with this trip already. Largely, it has caused me immense joy and excitement, in a time of my life that had gotten quite dark, but it has also filled me with anxiety and self-doubt as I questioned my ability to pull it off on my own. 

This trip is huge to me for so many reasons. For a girl who’s never ventured out of Europe, travelling 20 hours alone to countries completely unknown (to myself), with no one waiting for me at the other end, is a daunting prospect to say the least, and one I know many bigger and ‘braver’ people couldn’t face. Maybe I was slightly naive when I booked it, or just riding high on a very optimistic wave, or maybe I really do have it in me to make this the best time of my life. I’ve always been an independent person, to a fault even, so it hasn’t surprised me that I’ve wandered off on my own. I won’t lie though, it wasn’t my first choice, doing it solo; if a friend had decided to come and share this experience with me I’d have been over the moon. But this year in particular I’ve hit a turning point - why put on hold the things I want to do most, because others aren’t ready? To risk sounding like a raging teen, it’s my life and I have to be the one behind the reins, choosing the paths and creating the memories for myself. The timing worked for me, I was desperate for a trip like nothing I had done before, so I made it happen. 

I’m writing this whilst sat on my flight to Cairns, the first stop on my extensive itinerary. My previous flight from London Heathrow to Singapore was roughly 13 hours, and wow did my bum feel it. Or not feel it, as the case was by the time we touched down. The longest flight I’ve been on until now was 5 hours I believe, so this is like a sprinter taking on a marathon; a marathon of sitting, watching films, trying not to encroach on the space of your neighbours, and the hardest part of all - attempting some shut eye. Many of you reading this will be scoffing at how obvious these ‘revelations’ are, having been on long haul flights before, but this is unchartered territory for me, and I  truly didn’t expect it to drag for such a long time. 

I’m an impatient person when it comes to travelling. I love being in A and being in B, but getting to and from is nothing more than a stressful pain in the neck. It’s just a means to an end, the boring bit before the fun begins. This is a cynical way of looking at travel, I know, but sue me! We all know it’s true. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to appreciate it as part of the whole exciting package, but today is not that day. It definitely didn’t help that my journey began with me locking myself out of my backpack after getting through security, and having to get it cut open by a very official-looking man at border control. I can look back and find it funny, a good story and silly blunder at least, but not the best way to kick off your very first voyage by yourself. 

Anyway, sorry if this entry has been a case of word vomit, but I have been sat in silence for around 17 hours now, so I think I just want to speak to someone, anyone, who’ll listen. Fingers crossed I’ll have had some proper conversation and amazing adventures by my next post. 

Stay tuned, next stop: Cairns. 

Sorry I've been MIA for the past couple weeks, I'm not really sure what I've been doing but it must've been very important...

Something I have been up to is shooting for Cribbs, a Caribbean restaurant in town. This was my first commissioned shoot so I was quite nervous about it, and I was tasked with taking images that will reboot and freshen up their social media presence with a potential to reach hundreds of people - so a lot of pressure. I still don't have my own kit, which is something I MUST get sorted because it is proving to be far from practical to borrow equipment from other people! No surprises there I guess.

 I was apprehensive about the amount of light in the restaurant. Something that a lot of establishments in Falmouth struggle with is natural light, especially those on the high street, because they are surrounded by extremely tall buildings which block the sun for most of the day. Food photography looks best with natural lighting, as it gives it a more realistic finish and therefore makes the food seem more tempting. On arrival at Cribbs I did notice how dark the areas set further back seemed, not for the average diner but definitely for the purpose of photography. However, the tables by the window received a good amount of light, probably thanks to the gorgeous weather we were having, so I felt confident that the images would be fine. I wanted to move around the restaurant to get a variety of settings but there were too many customers; how rude of them, wanting to eat there! But the food looked beautiful regardless of the setting, which made my job a lot easier, and tasted great too - my payment was a free meal, akee on toast which was sooo yummy!

However, when I got home horror struck. The devil got his hands on my CF card and decided to mess with some of the files, making them unreadable and effectively lost. I swear I had a mini heart attack. I thought how typical, every shoot I've ever done for myself has been absolutely fine, but the first commissioned work I have gets lost on the card. My panic was premature though, as luckily it was only a small portion of images that vanished. It was still frustrating but 40 photos out of about 300 really isn't too bad. Then my computer decided it didn't have enough space for all the files, but I'd rather not relive that nightmare. Ultimately I sorted it and the images look attractive, and that's all that matters! I believe the client is pleased with them, they've been making their way onto Instagram so that's a good sign, and I'll be shooting with them again soon. 

I'll be uploading these and more photos soon, in a section dedicated to food. Happy days!

A couple nights ago Star Glazer's hosted an adults only pottery night, and to say I was excited about it is an understatement. I was nerding out, hard. Pottery is something I've always enjoyed but never really had the chance to do regularly, so when my friend and I heard about this event we signed up immediately. 

The evening was super chilled, we rocked up at 7 with our wine in hand (yes, we were allowed to bring alcohol - see why I was so excited now?) ready to make a mess and hopefully something semi-usable. Star Glazer's is usually a pottery-painting cafe, but this time we were starting from the beginning, moulding pots, spoons and tea bag rests by hand. Some came out better than others it has to be said, pottery isn't for everyone, but the room was buzzing with laughter and chatter, bringing together groups of friends for a very different kind of night out. With the option to go back and paint your 'masterpiece' at a later date you get a lot for your £10, meaning I need to get brainstorming design ideas... It was such a unique experience to share with close friends, have a giggle and make something worth keeping (good or bad), and I'm looking forward to the next one. Sign me up!

Firstly, sorry for the late post. I've been busily moving out of my uni house this week!

Last weekend brought the International Sea Shanty Festival back to Falmouth, which is actually a really big deal if you're in that realm of the music world, as it brings together traditional and contemporary sea shanty groups from around the world. However, if classic nautical tunes haven't made it onto your Spotify playlists it's just a great excuse to indulge in local food and drink all day long. The incredible weather that the UK experienced this week was the perfect accompaniment to the weekend, bringing out the floods of pale British sun worshippers and creating a beautifully warm, upbeat atmosphere across town. 

Over 20 venues hosted the 62 bands that graced Falmouth; I use the term 'venue' loosely there, as several of them were scattered in front of shops along the high street, but this really helped infuse the music throughout the town, allowing the poor souls (like myself, pity me) who were working to enjoy the festival along with everyone else. You could hear the gentle ebb and flow of harmonies from almost anywhere in Fal, which was both inviting and haunting in equal measure. It's a weird one, but if you embrace it for all it's nautical-ness the charm and positivity of the festival is infectious. Sorry for the lack of relevant imagery, I did a bad photographer thing and didn't bring a camera with me - oops. 

This week has been full of ups and downs for me. I went home for the first time in 6 months last week, as my final degree show was up in Bristol. It was such a rewarding experience putting together something with my course mates that we all worked so hard on. It was the final time we'll ever be all together in that kind of setting, which after three intense years is a pretty surreal thought. 

Coming back to Falmouth was lovely as always, I could never get sick of this special little town. However, the time I spent at home has assured me that a summer is enough here, and that I'm ready to move home to begin the next chapter of my life. As much as I love my life here, Falmouth/Cornwall can only offer me so much, so it's time for me to be brave and get out into the real world. Whether that's straight into work or travelling first I'm undecided yet, but I reckon I'll give myself the summer to figure that one out... 

Exciting news update - I have sold two out of three copies of my book, one to my course mate and the other to my university! They chose it as one of a handful of graduate students' work to keep in the photography departments permanent collection. I was so shocked but so honoured, definitely the reassurance I needed. I'm strongly considering printing more and selling them, I'm just not sure how to go about it. A brainstorm is needed! Until then, if you're interested you can access the whole book for free online, just follow the link in the 'guide book' chapter of my website. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my time at university, I can confidently say I wouldn't have done it without you. Let's see what's next!