Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

I've been missing from the blogging world for the past couple of weeks as I had to take an impromptu break after being in a car accident over Easter weekend. How's that for dramatic! I was on my way home from work when a car pulled out in front of me without looking where they were going. I had to spend a few days in hospital and had surgery to insert a metal plate into my arm. It was my right arm that got busted up, which is the worst one for me as I'm right handed so I've been unable to do almost everything. Including drawing, which has been very tough! But it's not all been doom and gloom, I've actually been feeling more cheerful than I have in a very long time. I guess there's nothing like a near death experience to shift your perspective! Plus I have a lot to look forward to at the moment, as everything's now set in place for me to move 350 miles to Devon to attain a degree in illustration. This is a step I've wanted to take for a long time (and previously attempted) and I really feel now is the right time for me and I'm very excited!

I had the cast removed from my arm on Wednesday which has made my arm more easily movable, but there's still much I can't do with it yet as it heals and it's still incredibly painful. Thankfully the weather has been lovely in England just lately which always lifts my spirits, and I've enjoyed the simple pleasure of just sitting in the garden with a book and my portable record player. Bliss!





PINAFORE - LOVING YOUTH // BLOUSE - THRIFTED // STITCH BACKPACK - DISNEYLAND PARIS // SANDALS - TOPSHOP // PIN - VINTAGE
This is a more fun outfit I threw together. The sandals are new and I adore them, they'll definitely be a staple in my summer wardrobe. I've been after a pair of sandals in this style for a long time, but genuine vintage pairs cost the earth so I was extremely happy to discover these in Topshop. I found them by accident, sitting in a coffee kiosk in the mall when I noticed them in the store window opposite from where I was sitting. Fate! I've always loved this backpack of Stitch. I can't fit much inside him but that's fine as I can't carry much right now. I love it looks like he's just perched on my back, waving at passersby.

In our little hideaway beneath the waves

I don't know why, but I felt like I didn't want to post about my trip in consecutive entries. But life has gotten in the way and stopped me from being able to do anything else worth blogging about, so I may as well get on with talking about the rest of my travels!

Looking around Bristol Zoo only took a couple of hours and I was done very early in the afternoon, which was lucky as I had a four hour car journey ahead of me to Cornwall! I didn't feel like doing much except for sleeping once I finally reached my hotel, but I still got to spend two days down there so I didn't feel like I missed out. I explored a little of Falmouth on day one. Unfortunately I was still poorly and my energy wasn't up to much, so I only took a cursory glance around the town and spent most of the afternoon down by the beach where I could take frequent rests amongst the pretty scenery. A lot of Cornwall felt very similar to where I live now, and it was at the beach where I felt the biggest difference. Where I live the seaside is all shabby promenades, noisy arcades and neon lights, whereas there the coastline felt much more natural and peaceful so it was a lovely chilled out day.



















On the second day I spent the afternoon taking a look around Truro and doing a spot of shopping. I know shopping isn't everyone's idea of fun, but I always enjoy checking out a few places when away as I find anything I buy serves as a reminder of my trip. Even if it's just something generic that could be bought anywhere in the country, it's nice to have that personal memory forever attached to it. I like it when my things have a story. Being me, I particularly enjoy checking out the local charity, vintage and record shops, and Truro didn't disappoint at all! I found some lovely things in a couple of the charity stores, including a beautiful turquoise paisley print coat from the late '60s, several vintage skirts of varying lengths, a few bits of jewellery, and the cream of the crop: a '70s model Polaroid land camera! It had it's original case which I clocked almost as soon as I entered the store, and I actually held my breath as I lifted the latch to check for the camera inside. I've been searching for one of these cameras for years, I have so many fond memories of my grandmothers Polaroid from the same era. Film was expensive even then so it would only be dragged out on special occasions, so it's become intrinsically linked with certain events of my childhood. It'll cost even more ridiculous amounts to put film in it nowadays (it's £17 for 10 photos!) but I still had to buy it, especially as I'd all but given up on thrifting a Polaroid in working condition and recently purchased a Fujifilm Instax 8 instead. Oh well, there's no such thing as too much instant film!




I very almost dismissed the record store as I was tired and it was getting a little late, but knew I'd kick myself if I didn't at least take a little look so dragged myself in not really expecting much. My goodness am I glad I did! I had the best luck I've ever had at a record store, and ended up grabbing long sought after titles in a frenzy. When I went through them all at home the next day I found some I honestly didn't have any recollection of picking up. I only got to spend 45 minutes in there, to think what I could probably have found if I'd had the chance to look properly. I didn't even get to take so much as a glance at the 45s, so god knows what treasure was hidden there. I was trying to mentally list artists I might hope to find as I flipped through the LP boxes, and forgot many which all came to me afterwards as is typical! I was thrilled with all of The Beatles and Queen records I managed to find, I'm finally getting close to completion on those collections now! The live recordings were especially exciting as I never see those for sale and I love Queen's live recordings almost as much as their studio albums, they're in constant rotation on my iPod. And I was very glad to find Queen II as it's one of my favourites, I've often mourned the fact that I didn't have it and almost resorted to eBay in desperation many times. Proof that it's worth holding off, everything comes eventually!



All in all, a good trip!