Snail mail is the best mail.

When I was in year 7, many moons ago, my tutor went to Kenya on behalf of my high school forming a partnership with a school in Ndhiwa town. He asked us all to write a letter about ourselves, our interest and family, when he came home we all received a letter back and to this day I still have that letter. Unfortunately, he never went back so I wasn't able to send my reply.

After Christmas I decided I wanted to have some penpals. 

So, just looking through Instagram I seen there was a whole world of letters and postcards being sent  to people across the world, there are many accounts that will post your information and interests for you.

Anyone who does like you, will inbox you or if you like someone you inbox them.

All it takes is one message and hey presto in the space of 6 months I've gone from having 0 penpals to 35, ranging from the ages of 18-25 from Mexico to China.

Here are a few letters I've posted and recieved.

Another hobby of mine is a website called Postcrossing. You create your profile send a person a postcard it's all completely random. Once you've sent one that has been received you get another sent to you.

Here are all the ones I have received so far, Darth Vader and the Darlek ones are my favourites!

xoxo

Blyth Beach

Hey! 

So we've been having lovely weather recently, usually when I have a day off work the weather turns crap and it pee's down, but not this day! 

My friend Adam and I took a drive up to Blyth beach, in Northumberland, which is roughly a 20 minute drive from mine and I had never been before! I was so surprised at how lovely the beach was, only a handful of people on their daily runs and a few dog walkers. I'll let the photo's show how beautiful it is, my words won't do it justice.

And afterwards, we headed to Bedlington Country Park, which I never even knew existed.

Much love, 

M! xo

Little Mix

Hey so I'm two months late posting this, but hey ho!

I seen Little Mix at the Metroradio Arena in Newcastle. I went with a friend of mine and honestly we felt too old to be there, surrounded by children and their mothers, but we had a blast.

The Christie Wedding!

Hey!

Better late than never, I'm not good at this continuity of regular posting. However said a friend of mine has announced his wedding date, who doesn't love a good wedding?! I realised that I hadn't shared the photos from my uncle's wedding up in Gretna Green, which was bloody beautiful and sunny.

The new Mr & Mrs Christie.

 I present to you the very small Christie family <3

It really was a small beautiful wedding and a perfect weekend filled with family, friends, plenty of booze and dad dancing <3

Much love, 

M! xo.

2015

Hey sweeties, 

Throughout my life, I've been very fortunate to have a large group of friends and a few best friends. My two closet ones I've known for over 12 years, they didn't know each other until brought them together on nights out. Last year was the first time we've been on holiday together with another friend, I thought it'd be great and it was, it was just the after math I didn't like.

With them two it's as if I've been left in 2014.

Granted I don't see them all the time, we have our own lives but we always text or ring each other, since our holiday they've went out without me to town shopping or just chilling. I suppose you could say I'm a little jealous and I don't know why. 

The other night, they posted images on social media with captions such as 'hanging with my homie' and 'with the fav', I felt a huge smack in the face I'm not bothered that they go out without me, its the fact that they don't even ask me.

We meet up for a meal the other week I just sat listening as they talk about major things in their life and I'm like when did this happen? Completely clueless I was, then they ask why do I seem distant!

This summed up how I felt, they wouldn't like to not be invited out and I never do not ask them.  

Maybe I'm loyal to fault.

Thankfully, I have a few other close friends to confide in and they say I'm not being stupid.

Sometimes I think I am stupid for the way I feel. 

Anyways:

I decided that Boxing day was the last day of eating a load of rubbish and cut out all the fizzy pops, switching to water.

So far I've lost a stone!

 It's amazing how much you can loose if you stick to it.

Hope you're all well. 

Much love, 

M! xo 

The feels...

Hey Sweeties,

Well, what's the main thing that has happened since April?

Me and the boy are no more, which still hurts a bit, considering he was the first. I waited 21 years to find the right guy and I'm glad it was him. 

We were together for 10 months, but had known each other longer as we worked together, those first few months were amazing, I felt invincible (stupid word I know, but I did). 

I was so happy, I had found someone who liked me for me and someone who I loved and still do, don't think I'll ever not.

As daddy says "you'll never forget your first." 

Within those 10 months, we had an amazing time, which I'll never forget.

And to be honest I knew the end was coming, I just felt it. Like, you know it's not the same as before, you put the effort in and he doesn't, you spend most of your time thinking that you've done something wrong even though you haven't. Then the paranoia sets in am I not good enough for him? What is wrong with me? 

Looking back I can clearly see and say that I had done nothing wrong, I was more than good enough for him, I treated him like a king and I was a bloody good girlfriend.

The day he ended it was the day I found out I received a 2:1 in my second year (happiness didn't last long) and the week of my Uncle's wedding so August was a pretty shit month for.

And to top it all off I still had to work with him which was the hardest part!

Our next shift together, I sat for an hour beforehand in the car with my dad crying my eyes out, all our friends knowing that we weren't together, I felt as though everyone pitied me, I couldn't stand it and came so close to walking out.

Recently, he moved to London to start a new job, I wish him so much luck but I'm also, so thankful that he moved as I don't think I'd would've ever gotten over him. In the end, I had to delete him off all social media as everything he posted I was reading too much into, I constantly felt sick and it really was a such a low point in my life.

But you know what?

Two weeks later I went to Turkey with my girlies! Which made me realise all you need in life is your friends and family, you don't need a boyfriend to make you who you are, that comes from yourself and the loving people around you. 

If you happen to have an amazing boyfriend then I am truly happy for you and hope it lasts, because you more than deserve happiness and someone who loves you back. 

But now, 

 I'm stronger and happier because of it all. 

Much Love, 

M! xo

Edinburgh zoo!

Hey sweeties!

All the way back in January, me and the boy went to Edinburgh for the day with one main intention. 

To visit the zoo!! 

I can't believe it's taken me this long to share these amazing photographs.

We got booked our tickets a week before hand through Red Spotted Hanky, with only in a week to go I was amazed that it was only £40 each return. 

With what felt like the quickest journey, we arrived at Waverly Place to meet our connection to Edinburgh Haymarket as it was the closest to the zoo. From there we got on a bus which took about 10 minutes.

When we got there the weather was quite dull and a bit rainy so no surprise the zoo was quite empty. 

Edinburgh zoo is more than amazing!

The fact that there was hardly anyone there meant we could just stand and take photos for a few minutes without people in our way and shoving us to move along. By the end of our visit to the zoo I was on the verge of selling everything I had to buy a zoo and to be honest even if I did I still wouldn't have enough but knowing that the zoo is only a few hours away will do for.

Photography for me is a hobby and I wouldn't say that I'm David Bailey or anything but I am rather proud of stills I captured. 

All photos were taken on my Panasonic TZ35.

 

This is Yang Guang, unfortunately we never saw Tian Tian.

Afterwards, we headed back into town having a browse in the many shops on Princes Street.

Whilst stopping over for a buger, which unfortunately I can't remember the name of :(

I love Edinburgh just wish we had more time to explore, hopefully is there is a next time it'll be for the weekend and not just the day.

Have you been? and What is your favourite thing to do there?

Much love,

M! xo