... even further down the line

Dear oh dear oh dear.

I'd near enough forgotten I even had this blog!
If it's at all possible, I'm in an even bigger rut than I was way back when i last posted here!

After moving to London in September 2009 (with Nelson), I found work in a luxury gift and homeware store in Central London. 1 year 7 months down the line, I've been made redundant.

Perhaps lack of work and inspiration is what draws me to this blog, I seem to only think of it when I'm not working!

Until next time x

7 months down the line...

.... and I didn't do a great job of keeping up a blog, did I?!
Stress.
Stress.
And more stress.
With a major bit of unemployment thrown in there for good measure.

Road trip USA

March 2nd - March 13th = work experience at The Daily Express, and OK! Magazine. Very much looking forward to this. Maybe something will come out of it?



I've only got 6 more months in this house, and I've not got a clue what to do after that.
Nelson and I have been talking, and would lovelovelove to spend 2 months driving across the USA. Due to seasons, we have it in mind to begin this adventure mid september. So, what the hell do I do with myself between 1st august (homeless), until then? I've got far too much furniture and accumulated stuff here in Cambridge to move it back home. It's too stressful to think about.

For good measure, here is a picture of my rather messy, yet incredibly comfortable bed - I spend a lot of time here. I appreciate the warmth and cosyness.

So, travelling. Both being under 25, we realise that hiring a car out there will be too expensive, ridiculous in fact. Therefore, we are going to buy a car out there and look into all the boring insurance crap before hand. I'm sure many people have done this before, it can't be too complicated.

The roughest of rough plans so far, is as follows (partly thanks to Stephen Fry Across America):

• Fly into New York.
• Explore Manhattan a wee bit (i've been there a bunch before, Nelson isn't fussed, so that should save us a bunch of dollar)
• Explore New York state a bit - it is apparently beautiful.
• Head down to Washington DC - check out all the political stuff, bump into Obama.
• Head south a bit - possibly going down the coast, maybe more inland - we've yet to check out the best roads.
• End up in Georgia for a wee while.
• Zoom through Tennessee on our way to Sweet Home Alabama.
• Head further down through Louisiana, and into Southern Texas. I'm going to buy a hat :)
• Head back up towards New Mexico, through to Arizona. Undecided where abouts exactly.
• Now we're on the West Coast, the expensive, tourist stuff is going to begin!
• Hit Vegas! Here we will be swinging by The Grand Canyon for a bit, then hitting Vegas itself, then onto Death Valley. This period will be IMMENSE but I'm so looking forward to it.
• Whip further down to LA, where we may end the trip.
• There is a chance we will head up the Pacific Coast to San Francisco, would be a shame not to.

All that is approximately 3 sold days of driving - about 4,000 miles. But, in 2 months, it should be grand, especially if we share the driving.

On that note, this means that starting from NOW, we are going to have to start saving about £200/£250 each per month to pay for it all. But I don't care. I'll be so gutted if this trip doesn't happen.

the birth of patchwork mittens.

There is no reason for my choice of name - I was merely sitting in my bedroom trying to think of something nice, and alas - Patchwork Mittens was born.

I have a livejournal account, but tend to use that just to scan communities rather than blog.

I'm hoping that by creating this blog, I will encourage myself to want to post wonderful things, and in order to post wonderful things, I must do wonderful things.

My life right now consists of living in Cambridge - working part time in a lovely, yet not so riviting gift shop, The Cherry Tree - and doing an online diploma in Interior Design.

• Cambridge - This is my fourth year living here. It's lovely, but I'm tired of it. Bring on bigger, better, and more exciting things.
• The Cherry Tree - worked here for a year now. Small, independent gift shop, which is now not doing so well due to the recession. I'm working approx 8 - 12 hours per week, and at £6ph that is an average of £60 in my pocket each week... However, it's tedious. If I'm working, my boss isn't. Therefore, I am alone. On some days I only take in as much money as my boss is about to pay me for my time, and this just isn't fulfilling or satisfying.
• Interior Design - I really enjoy this. I've always had a thing for interior design. I love all the magazines, and even shop brochures. I love colour and style and texture, and would absolutely adore a place of my own that I can decorate and style to my hearts content. 12 months to complete 12 modules. I'm roughly doing a module a month, which works out well. But, considering my severe lack of other commitments, I should most definitely be working at a much faster pace. Yet I don't.

Things are missing from my life right now. Excitement, being one. Adventure being another. I don't have things bad, and essentially, I need to get my arse in gear. But, I'm stuck in a rut. MY motivational gear needs severely kicking.

What a wonderfully uplifting first entry this has been! From now on, let's make life a more exciting adventure, and smile.