Liebster Award

Hello there!

As I’ve mentioned a hundred times before, I am quite- erm- behind in my emails. I’ve just found this award from *cough* March, though, so I thought I would post it. Thank you to The Writing Hufflepuff for nominating me- sorry it’s taken so long for me to acknowledge it!

The Rules

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog!
2. Give your readers 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions from the blog who nominated you.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers to receive this award.
5. Come up with 11 questions for your nominees!

11 random facts about me

1. My favourite animals are giraffes- have been forever. I have so many giraffe related things in my room, it’s slightly ridiculous.
2. I’m a bit of a stereotypical Brit in the sense that I love tea and probably drink way too much of it. Ice tea is gross, though.
3. I’m currently scrapbooking all my sixth form photos which is lots of fun because I’m remembering all the fun times we had.
4. My star sign is Leo, which is weird because most of the Leo “traits” really do not apply to me. Though I don’t actually believe in any of the star sign rubbish so I’m not sure why I care (though I do read my horoscope just in case– forewarned is forearmed, kids (is that even the saying)). I do like cats though.
5. I really like the “pointy” odd numbers, if that makes any sense. Like 17. None of this round even number rubbish. (Please tell me you understand and I’m not alone in my irrational dislike of rounded numbers).
6. My favourite colour is blue, but it has to be DARK blue.
7. I recently made two dresses to take on my holidays, and I’m thinking of making a skirt soon!
8. I have so many teddies and soft toys in my room and the biggest is a massive yellow bear that my brother won when he went to Alton Towers. It’s about three foot tall!
9. I read The Killing’s book adaption in June, and I’m currently watching the series with my brother (IT’S SO GOOD!!!).
10. Because of this I now really want to learn Danish and visit Denmark.
11. When we were in Greece recently, someone gave my mum a Danish coin for change because it had been mixed up as a Euro, so she gave it to me. I now have 10 kronor towards said visit to Denmark! Woo hoo! (Until you see the exchange rates and see how much 10 kronor is worth)

Picture: sophisticatedthinking.wordpress.com-

The Writing Hufflepuff’s Questions:

1. What is your favourite film?

I have a few. I love Pretty Woman and Pride and Prejudice because they make me laugh and feel really happy, and I love The English Patient, both because of the story and because my favourite actors, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ralph Fiennes, are in it. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz make me laugh, and I have an eternal love for films like Crocodile Dundee I & II and The Fugitive, which I always watch when they come on telly.

2. What is the reason behind your blog’s name?

Scribbley is my dad’s nickname for me, and it seemed to go well with my general theme of writing sooo… yeah 🙂

3. Who is your favourite character from anything ever?

ARGH SO DIFFICULT. I think probably Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, because I really identified with her when I was younger. I’m probably more like Hermione in the academic sense, but when I was a child I generally received comments about my personality and the fact I am a bit weird, which didn’t bother me hugely but I found it confusing that people were saying stuff like that to me so it was quite reassuring to have a character who is also teased for being odd but didn’t care. Actually, I think that probably helped later on when I started getting comments about my appearance and nerdiness because they generally (excluding some nastier incidents) didn’t affect me. So thanks, Luna!

 

Picture: giphy.com

4. If you could immediately become fluent in one language, what language would you pick and why?

Latin, because it’s the basis for a lot of languages, so while it is a “dead language” itself, it would definitely help with learning other languages!

5. What is your favourite food?

My favourite meal is lasagne, but anything pig is good. Excellent, actually.

6. What are some of your favourite blogs? (With links)

If I follow you, I like you! I’m not picking favourites- just know I enjoy reading everyone’s blogs 🙂

7. Who’s your favourite actor/ actress?

Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas (shut me up on this topic before I begin fangirling uncontrollably).

8. What is your favourite item of clothing?

At the moment, my school leavers’ hoodie. It’s HUGE and so SNUGGLY.

But also the jumpers my nanny knitted me because they’re so warm. Not seasonal, but there you go.

Cat print clothing and skater skirts too.

9. What is your favourite book/ comic series?

Can I have two? Pretty please?

Harry Potter (obviously), and the Millenium series. (I don’t read comics)

10. What is your favourite number?

17 (see fact about pointy numbers).

13 is my lucky number (converse to the rest of the world!) since it’s my birthday date.

11. If you could rule the world, what would you do first?

END INEQUALITY. That covers a lot, I think. And then I would move onto poverty and stopping war… Endless jobs!

 

I’m going to nominate anyone who wants to do this award, since I think most people have already done it and I’m a bit late to the party! Link back here if you do do the award, though- I’d like to see your posts!

 

Update!

Hello, folks!

Lots has happened in the time since I last posted. Last week was my birthday, which also, terrifyingly, fell on my A Level results day.

Picture: tumblr.com

Fortunately, everything went well and I had a fantastic 18^th birthday, which was extra special because all my family was around to spend it with me. Plus, I now know I am definitely going to university- which I am super excited about!

Picture: tumblr.com

I think I mentioned before about my holiday in Syros, Greece, which was very chilled out (just what I needed in the run-up to results day!), but, if not, here are some photos!

Photo: Scribbley

 

Photo: Scribbley

The photo below is from a trip we took to Tinnos, a neighbouring island. It is home to a large Greek Orthodox church, which pilgrims were travelling to- women were crawling on their hands and knees up this hill on the carpet to the church at the top. We spoke to a shop owner, and it seems to be a pilgrimage for healing, perhaps for fertility or childbirth since all the pilgrims we saw were women.

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

This is a remote beach at the top of Syros, accessible only via boat. When we went there was only about 15 others on the beach, all from the same boat. The sailor that brought us came back with a floating crate and served everyone with drinks and melon- you’ve never had melon until you’ve eaten slices stood waist-high in cool sea water with the sun beating on your back and juice running down your hands, I’m telling you! The water was fantastically clear too, so the snorkelling was great.

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

I’m not sure about August, but I don’t leave home until the end of September so I will definitely be able to blog more than I have been doing then. When I start uni I’m going to try and figure out a routine for blogging and writing in the mornings, but I guess it depends if I can haul myself out of bed! I’ve done lots of reading, so maybe I can coax one review out a day or something (I’m aware I promised a couple of bloggers a review- I will do them, it’s just a question of when, sorry!). I’ve not been in the mood for reviewing recently, and I don’t see the point of writing a rubbish review for the sake of it.

As I think I’ve mentioned before, I’m writing the first draft of my novel (it’s technically the second, but the actual first was short and abysmal) so once that’s done I’d quite like to do some posts about it. Maybe by Christmas?

To my lovely fanfiction readers, the next chapter of Of Snakes and Lions is done and dusted, but I’m waiting until the following chapter is complete before posting it because things are going to be a bit hectic as I prepare for uni and I don’t want to post a chapter when I’m not sure when the next one will be up. If that makes sense! To those on fanfiction.net, I’ve suggested a one-shot competition (see the last chapter of Of Snakes and Lions) and all the responses were positive, so full steam ahead with that, woo hoo! I’ll be extending the competition to Wattpad if it works out okay. Actually, I have an idea for a kind of compilation of Sevmione one-shots inspired by songs, but I’m going to be sensible and wait until I’ve finished Of Snakes and Lions before starting a new fic! I will jot ideas down though 🙂

Picture: giphy.com

Much love,

Scribbley

Re-arranging

For the writers! 📖

writing living breathing

pencil shavings join
the flakes of rubber
crumpled pages
pieces flying
through the air

grunts and groans
come from her
tired mouth
fighting with the
words in her head

the words that don’t
match what she
puts down on paper
when it sounded perfect
inside her head

and page after page
she scratches out
hoping that
if she writes enough
she’ll make sense of the clutter

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Epic Reads Tag

I was tagged by thewritinghufflepuff in (shuffles feet awkwardly) February to do this, and I’ve only just done it- sorry! But thank you for tagging me!

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Question 1: If you could invite one author and one of their fictional characters to tea, who would you invite and what would you serve them?
I recently read Suite Francaise by Irène Némirovsky on holiday- it was a book I had been looking forward to reading but had been saving for my hols, and it did not disappoint. Némirovsky’s writing is very sensitive, which is especially interesting when you consider she was writing during the Second World War herself. My edition had copies of Némirovsky’s notes on the novel, which were interesting to read as a writer myself- I found I could empathise with her feelings and the way she sometimes questioned whether she was expressing herself fully, so I would like to chat with her about her writing and her thoughts of being a writer. I would invite the character Lucile and ask her about her thoughts in hindsight and with more knowledge of what occurred in the holocaust, and the impact of this on her feelings for Bruno. I would serve a cream tea since I doubt that would have been available in the war due to rationing!

Question 2: What book do you wish the author would write the prequel for?
HARRY POTTER! I really need a 1000 book series explaining all the Marauder era stories, plus how Severus got involved with the Death Eaters, plus Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s story… Pretty please?

Picture: rebloggy.com

Question 3: Which two characters (NOT from the same book) do you think would make a good couple?
Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter- the books, not the films) and Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind)- but a modern day Rhett, so hopefully not pro-slavery! I think Ginny was seriously undermined by the fact she ended up with her childhood crush despite no chemistry, um, whatsoever, and I think she would like Rhett’s flirtatious bad boy adventurer personality, while Rhett would like her independence and strength and the fact that she would stand up to him.

Question 4: If you ran into your favourite author on the subway and only could say one sentence to them who is it and what would it be?
To be honest I would either go incredibly fangirly or impossibly awkward…

Picture: Warner Bros

… but what I would want to say is simply, “Thank you.”

 I have a lot of favourite authors, so I can’t possibly pick just one!

Question 5: What book made you a reader and why?
One of my earliest memories of reading is going to the travelling library in our village that came once a week for the first time with my mum. It was basically a trailer, but it had carpeted floors and was wall to wall of books. At one end there was a snug little corner of children’s books, and I remember my mum picking out one of the Secret Seven books and suggesting I read it. I think that most probably made me a reader because I devoured Enid Blyton’s books from then on- nothing was as exciting as seeing one I hadn’t read before in the library. My favourites were the Five Find-Outers and Dog, the Famous Five, and the Faraway Tree.

Question 6: Your bookshelf just caught fire! What is the one book you would save?
That is such a ridiculous scenario because I would literally grab the nearest bag or box and pile in as many books as I could, and go in for more if it was safe (ish). One book? PAH

Picture: Warner Bros

Question 7: Which dystopian world would you want to live in and why?
Hum. I don’t read a lot of dystopias, to be honest. I think I would like to live in Sealand in The Chrysalids (by John Wyndham), which is a more technologically advanced society than where the rest of the novel is set, and where strange gifts and talents are more readily accepted. Why? Mainly because it’s a bit less dangerous than the other dystopian worlds I’ve read about!

Question 8: What is your most Epic Read of all time?
Gone with the Wind! I just love it- I love Scarlett and Rhett’s independence; their strength; their selfishness (I really like realistic characters that aren’t especially pleasant, don’t know why!). I’ve re-read it a few times and I’ll probably re-read it many more times again!

Picture: movegifss.tumblr.com

I’m tagging:

Millie Thom

Jenny in Neverland

smalltown bookworm

and anyone else who wants to do it (although I’m aware a lot of people already have).

On public shaming, call-out culture and humiliation as a sport

Well worth reading and reminding yourself that public shaming etc can have huge impacts on those at the centre of the storm

Long time, no blog!

Hello, folks.

Well, my exams have been over about a month now (though it feels like years) and I suppose I should have posted some time before this. I have a half-excuse of being busy- I spent a week working at my mum’s place; passed my driving theory test (yay!); went to prom; spent a week at my grandparents… but, actually, the main reason I haven’t posted is because I haven’t felt like it. I didn’t have anything to say! I haven’t even written a single book review!

So, what have I been doing, when I’ve not been working/ doing tests/ going to prom/ visiting my grandparents? I’m proud to say I’ve been doing a lot of writing after a couple of months- probably more, actually- of not doing any (oh, you pesky exams!). I’ve written about 15,000 words of my fan-fiction, which will be updated tomorrow if any of my readers are here, as well as nearly 9,000 of my novel. I’m not sure whether to count what I’m currently writing as my first or second draft; I wrote a really pathetic draft in January, so I’m not sure if it counts as a draft at all! Regardless, I’m pleased with what I have written so far, and I’m aiming to have 60,000 words written by September-ish time. I’m writing with an ink pen in a notebook, and I’m sure I’ve never gone through so much ink cartridges at once!

Photo & Artwork: Scribbley

I’ve also been doing some drawing and painting. The painting above is one I did a week or so ago- one day I just attacked a piece of paper with colour! I’m quite pleased with it, though it’s not really my style. My brother has commissioned me to draw a car for him to stick up in his room, too- I’m getting paid in sweets, haha!

Photo: Scribbley

I went to a nature reserve with my mum as well, and I really liked this photo I took of a butterfly so I thought I’d share it. Last weekend I went on a bike ride with my dad starting at the same reserve- note to all my readers, 21 mile rides after one or two years without cycling at all are a BAD IDEA. We both had fun, but I couldn’t walk for half the week afterwards!

Just realised that every single paragraph ends with an exclamation mark… I’m just a bit excited because we’re going on holiday tomorrow! Final things: I don’t know when I’ll next post, but I will… eventually; also, I have 800+ emails in my inbox and I’m slowly getting through them, so if you see me comment/ like/ whatever your post from March 1984 or something that’s why!

FINAL FINAL FINAL thing… today is my 1 year blog anniversary, which was a pleasant surprise when I logged on! Happy birthday to my blog, and thank you all for a brilliant year!

 

Couleurs

A gorgeous picture from one of my favourite blogs! 📷

Life in a Photograph

And now for something completely different! 😀 haha but not really. I wanted to create a photomanipulation in colour and after a few tries i managed to create this one!
I added a few textures and photos of stars and added movement to the edges of the photo to give the impression that we’re flying through space! 🙂
Yep this one is very colourful!! 🙂

Do you like it? 😀

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Location: somewhere in São Vicente – Madeira island – Portugal
Shutter speed: 20 seconds.
F: /22
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 100
filter: none
PS: The title “Couleurs” was inspired by m83. It’s the track i was listening to while editing! 🙂

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Trip to Bolton Abbey

Yesterday I visited Bolton Abbey, so I thought I would share my pictures with you. The priory ruins and surrounding area are very picturesque, and there are lots of spots perfect for picnics (we had ours at the brilliantly named Valley of Desolation!).

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

I think the photo above is my favourite- very dramatic!

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

My favourite place name ever. It sounds like one of Enid Blyton’s stories- I think there was a series with names like the Valley of Adventure etc

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Voting: Round 2 of The Book Awards 2015

Voting is open for The Writing Hufflepuff’s book awards!

Day out in London- Easter holiday 2015

First of all- Happy Easter, and sorry I haven’t posted in a while!

Last week, my brother and I went to visit our grandparents, and while there we visited London. I thought I’d share my photos, since the buildings we visited were pretty impressive.

Photo: Scribbley

Temple Church

I’ve wanted to visit this for ages, since it’s mentioned in The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown). It was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century next to what is now Fleet Street. Despite this being a well known patch of London (and Monopoly!), the church itself is relatively hidden. It’s one of those places you find by accident- or, in our case, after consulting various maps.

Photo: Scribbley

The round part of the church you see above was built in 1185 (won’t say anymore, since Robert Langdon explains it far better as the main character of The Da Vinci Code!); this bit below was built in 1240.

Photo: Scribbley

The inside of the church wasn’t really to my taste, though the stained glass windows were fabulous and the church itself is photogenic. It seemed cold and impersonal, which is odd considering its wealth of history.

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

This probably isn’t a technically “good” photo, but I like the faint colours of the stained glass shining on the knight. It makes him seem a little less lifeless, and more like someone who had a history.

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Again, technically not great. I like the streams of light coming through the window- I actually messed with the brightness on my camera to make them whiter. I think it gives an unearthly effect. I might try painting it sometime.

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

 

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Royal Courts of Justice

We were lucky with this one- the next day there was a fire in the area and the building had to be evacuated. Unfortunately, photography isn’t allowed inside the courts, so my only photos are from outside. We hadn’t thought visitors were permitted, though, so I suppose I can’t complain about being unable to take photos if I didn’t think I would be allowed in in the first place!

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Though not exactly welcoming, I think it’s an impressive building. I don’t know much about architecture (read: absolutely nothing), so this may be completely the wrong term, but I feel like “gothic” suits it quite well.

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St Clement Danes Church

Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clement’s (if my memory serves me right)

The RAF’s church, St Clement Danes, is next door-ish to the Royal Courts. Despite being in the middle of a bustling street, it was very quiet when we visited. It was easily my favourite, because it was much more personal than Temple Church without losing its grandeur.

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

Photo: Scribbley

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I hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures- though I know there were a lot of them! The churches in particular were beautiful to look round, so if you’re into photography or if you like wandering round churches and old buildings like me I’d recommend visiting them if you are ever in London. They’re at least a bit different to the “usual” attractions- plus they don’t cost the earth!