My first blog! How exciting! After months and months of deliberation and being on the receiving end of lots of nagging from friends I have finally taken the plunge and started my own blog. I’m not really sure why it has taken me so long considering I am a writer, love a good gossip and totally wear my heart on my sleeve therefore it makes sense that I should share my thoughts and experiences with you all!
Who was it who said ‘the key to being an excellent writer is to observe the world and record accurately and honestly what you see’ (or something to that effect) what a fantastic quote! Well, that’s what I aim to do with my blog. Now, if you’re expecting in-depth analysis on the changing political landscape of Northern Ireland
I thought a nice idea for my inaugural piece would be to give you an idea of who I am, so here are 10 facts about me:
- I can’t abide closed books, you know those people who won’t share anything but are quite happy to let you pour your heart out about worries, fears, insecurities and they sit there nodding their head, probably thinking ‘I feel like that too, you’re perfectly normal’ but would never say it! I hate those people, what are you hiding from? Share and let us know we’re not alone.
- My mum’s a legend. We call her Big Liz, I’ve no idea why as there is nothing big about her, but she is warm, funny, down to earth and very caring. When I was growing up she was a strict authoritarian who I was petrified of angering, so much so, that I was a perfectly sweet little girl who genuinely did no wrong – until about the age of 13 when I mastered the art of lying – she was a fantastic mother growing up and was always there to make me boiled egg in a cup when I was sick and would say things like ‘och love, I think you’re ready for a wee bit of toast’.
- I have a wonderful selection of fantastically fabulous girlfriends without whom I would be lost. They are gorgeous, sexy, hilarious, smart, caring and down to earth. We discuss absolutely everything from make-up and clothes to relationship woes and life’s disappointments, we analyse life and the unfairness/wonderfulness of it over tapas, cappuccinos, wine and jammy dodgers and generally put the world to right.
- I am extremely untidy! Borderline filthy if I’m honest. I have my own room in the apartment I share with my boyfriend so that he can chuck all my mess in there and close the door. Needless to say, the room resembles a town that has been hit badly by a tornado, one which was carrying a lot of make-up, clothes, hair products, underwear and shoes and deposited them in its passing. I recently had to have my bag searched in work (due to a VIP visit, not because I was involved in anything untoward) and was extremely embarrassed when the policewoman pulled out a sock (I kid you not), remnants of crisps, an orange which had started to develop fur and a tin of spaghetti hoops. Luckily I managed to find a man who is borderline OCD with tidiness, therefore he keeps me in line.
- I have an irrational fear of getting older. I think it’s cuz in my head I’m 15 and the fact that friends are starting to do grown up things like get married and buy houses confuses me, isn’t that what you do when you’re an adult? This crazy, irrational fear began on my 18th birthday. I have no idea where it stems from, I just remember thinking it was the beginning of change; end of school days and start of adulthood. At 26 I’m hardly ancient, but I dread my birthdays and am acutely aware that with each passing day I am another day older.
- Those who know me well say I can be extremely grumpy when I’m tired, therefore mornings and very late in the evening are good times to avoid me. I object to the word grumpy, I agree that when I am tired I become extremely quiet and don’t like to be conversed with, it is when people persist on trying to do so that I get grumpy.
- I suffer from bad panic attacks, though thankfully haven’t had one in about 2 years. The first time it happened I was on a packed bus holding helium balloons for my friend’s 21st birthday, when all of a sudden I got a ringing in my ears, was soaked in a cold sweat and lost my vision. I ran to the door of the bus and subsequently fainted onto the footpath in high dramatic fashion and came to in a pool of my own vomit, groping (unintentionally of course) an elderly passenger who had alighted the bus to assist me. I have no idea why these started and a visit to my doctor who informed me ‘there is a deep-rooted dark, psychological reason behind these panic attacks’ offered no light on the subject. Luckily I have learned to control them, but have utmost sympathy for fellow sufferers.
- I’m a very positive person, a real get up and goer and get frustrated with people who don’t share my enthusiasm. Don’t get me wrong, I understand we all have our days when we feel blue, myself included, but after a day you need to reassess what you want out of life and set about getting it.
- I love travelling. Everything about it. From being in the throng of other travellers at an airport to meeting new people, seeing new sights, learning new phrases and trying new food. I went backpacking last year for 18 months with my boyfriend and it was one of the best times of my life. I highly recommend taking a year out to travel. I freelance for NI Travel News which I love as they send me away on press trips to fascinating countries and I get to meet lovely people.
- The one word that most people describe me as is ‘bubbly’.
