28/1/2021

Amazingly (or rather un-amazingly and unsurprisingly) I am back again.

A whole *3 months since my last post (* haha, only joking it was 10 minutes ago in my head.)

The last post was put into drafts and completely forgotten about in the midst of all the excitement surrounding the new election...but since then we've had other matters and hurdles to get over. 

100,000 deaths, Trump's typical Western "I will be back" stint and an unforgiving amount of human dread and anxiety to add to the pot. All the worse bits of what makes our nervous system shudder in immeasurable amounts and want to disapparate into thin air. 

However.

In the words of great and wise xyz "nothing lasts forever"; faith that we must keep. There's a vaccine, a few to be precise, working it's magic. More people are practicing self-care - whether we call that meditating or having a couple of glasses of wine, you do you. And there are more people questioning the running of government and let's be honest, whether you believe Bojo is good or bad, the man's doing a pretty sh*t job of it. Sorry not sorry.

This post isn't really about anything as such, other than I just thought I'd tell you, dearest Reader, that I hope you're doing ok. I found out some news today and made me very aware of how short this thing called LIFE is and how we use it. But then I thought about it... How do you use life? Is it really something we use? Do we play with it? Is that coy? How is it utilised? Living life seems too futile now. So what do we do with Life?

Do you run with it? Eventually running out of breath. That's probably a bit too deep for some. And before we know it found out there's no more energy left to run with. Do you walk with it? Is that too slow? Some want to live life to the fullest so surely walking it is a little..boring perhaps?

Do you live it? 

This is the biggest question. We're not living right now, in the pandemic, we're surviving. And in a weird way, for someone who feels like I've lived 1,000 lives in a short space of time it's sort of unsettling but reassuring. 

It's important to stop and take everything in. However painful it is. However beautiful it is. Being still. Wherever you are - the kitchen, the garden, your bedroom, a studio on campus, your toilet etc - look at your hands. Look up. Look down. Look at where you are. What date is it? What time is it? Have you had a glass of pure Earth juice today? Have you hugged yourself today? 

This is being present.

And I only learned this not so long ago, but this is my idea of being present. Realising the now. Tuning in with me - and it's something us Earthlings have almost lost touch of because, for some reason, there's so much pressure on being a hooman that we forget the most beautiful part of Life. 

Tuning in with ourselves, with people around us, knowing ourselves enough to intuitively recognise a change in others, in sheer kindness offering a listening ear without expecting others to offer theirs. 

Making these effortless acts the most impactful and powerful connective bounds of being human.

So to end, even though this might be much to stomach, I hope you are ok. I hope you are relaxed in the knowledge you're still here. In the present. I, though I may not know you, am most certainly very glad you are. 

Take care, 

Grace x

8/11/2020

 And there she goes again...

After a staggering 500-and something days since I last wrote, last night gave me an urge to write again. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been elected to run the USA for the next 4 years and hope, goodness, the HOPE of knowing that good people are out there has made my heart sing and skip and god knows what else. 

It occured to me that I haven't so much even tried to write anything of worth and that I've been in a deep mental pit of confusion and upset, mainly due to University and Covid and moving back home etc. Just, you know, your standard "stuff" that happens once you graduate. You just don't expect to be constantly thinking about what happens next, get dangerously existential about everything and sooner or later realise you're not going to see your international mates for quite a while. And boom. An enormity of hopelessness, tears for days and staring into space with fag and 10th cup of tea in hand trying to think of something to do that isn't clubbing, complaining and constantly watching Netflix. 

But I'm not here to talk about my lockdown experience. I'm writing this as an ode I suppose to New Beginnings and looking forward has unlimited possibilities. There has never been a black, female Vice President of the United States before. But quite rightly said by the omnipotent choir of life "she will not be the last". I'm incredibly excited and feel like the biggest cloud of "Trump" dread has cleared. Like the kind you get when the forecast suggests you gotta baracade the hatches and prepare for Ameggedon because, let's be honest, it was looking close was it not? 

I'm very uneducated about all this at the moment. I still haven't seen what Biden's policies are but from interviews with him and Kamala the next 4 years will certainly look fairer and stronger. 

X

2019 #BACKTOBLOG

Well it's most certainly been a while hasn't it?
Since my 2016 endeavours took me away on a lengthly haitus from writing, I've returned to revamp my lovely blog from the cobwebs and dust of the last 3 years.

They'll be a few changes over the next couple of weeks so please stay tuned!
Starting, or rather restarting, my blog includes the hashtag #BackToBlog - an opportunity for others like me who've neglected their writings/bloggings/thoughts/feelings to come back in 2019 and give blogging another go!

Time to start again!

Cheers!
Gx

2015: A NEW ODYSSEY

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE I MADE THIS BLOG!

CRACK OUT THE BUBBLY/CAVA/PROSECCO HOWEVER CLASSY YOU'RE FEELING!

2015 has so far proven busy.

 A couple of auditions and job interviews/trials down and it's still only February! So quick update, last couple of months - omg, so busy, much work, little social life. I auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and got through to the recall stage however, being the competitive business it is, I didn't proceed any further. As well as that, I also applied for Bristol Old Vic but didn't go any further than the preliminary audition.  However, may I openly comment on the interview for BOV? Ahem. What interview? That wasn't an interview. That was one question, which actually wasn't a very good one. Hate to be "slightly opinionated" but you know, when you're paying £50 a pop for auditions you hope that you're getting the most out of it. Know what I mean?!

 Anyway, moving on! I've now got Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (a day in Glasgow!) and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama coming up soon! I'll keep y'all informed...

So as well as that there has also been much talk of jobs- which I have aquired! Yes, I'm currently working in a delightful restaurant on the seafront - I've got a ver smart uniform yarh. Ver nice.  I am having to control my monster of an appetite because, for those of you that work in restaurants will know, the smell of ALL THE FOODS EVER brings out the biggest hunger demon in me and I--I just can't control it. I don't go crazy, I just longingly look at the kitchens with a puppy dog expression...

Yes I know. It's almost heartbreaking. 

MUSIC

I miss looking at music and suggesting tunes so here are some of my favourites at the moment!

Make Me Feel Better

Alex Adair

Perfect song for running or, if you're an arty person like me, it's a great tune for sitting back and drawing/painting/collaging! Give it a listen! 

Warm Foothills

Alt-J

I'm sorry, I've listened to this song ON REPEAT for donkey's so when I saw that it's only just coming out as Alt-J's next best song I was a little bit like now hold the phone. Such a calm relaxing tune, something to play just before you nod off or on a cold, rainy day with mug of soup in hand! I think if you're a fan of long woodland walks as well this is something to definitely listen too! 

Rabbit Hole | Jamie T

Words cannot describe my love for this song. It's brilliant. Listen to it. 

I've never really got into his music before but recently this has been a big tune for car journeys and just ye' standard bedroom dancing!

Anyway, I've got some brilliant things coming up this year *FINGERS CROSSED* and hope that you'll enjoy my 2015: A NEW ODYSSEY!

Ta ta.<3

July/August in photos

                                               HEYWATSUPUGUYSOMGIMBAAACK

Hello, good morning, afternoon and evening!

Yes I'm back and this is a level of embarrassment I never hope to feel again PHAHA..ah.

I apologise heartily for my absence over these last three months of 2014 (although it's technically 4 but meh). It's been absolutely manic-crazy-oh-my-goodnessness-busy.

I had an idea.

Who actually looks blogs without the pictures?

So I thought instead of me rrrrrambling on with my incoherency, I thought I'd do a post to show you the main/important bits of the last 3-actually-4 months so you're all caught up on my adventures!
STARTING WITH JULY/AUGUST
Maybe with a few anecdotes here and there. Maybe. Possibly. I'm trying to see things from your perspective, you may not be prepared for my Oxford First Degree English skills that I so clearly possess. (Ha.)

JULY

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB - T IN THE PARK

They were incredible...

Now I only really have a few photos on my phone because it kept dying, (TIP NO. 1 ON FESTIVALS: ALWAYS BRING A PORTABLE CHARGER) but this is a decent, not-very blurry one from T!

AUGUST

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL

In August (well late July) I got the opportunity to travel up to Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 'Twas excellent fun working with stacks of new people and networking to my hearts content. 

Assembly Gardens in the early evening!

I operated/stage managed two shows while I was up there, the first was Noggin the Nog which was performed at Assembly (pictured) and the second was A Male Soprano which was performed at Paradise Green 

"Noggin the Nog" production shot! We had a massive dragons head as part of the set and was always popular with the audience!

Nice shot of the local church and the Scottish hills!

Edinburgh was such a crazy, stressful, amazing and incredible experience and I suggest that all of you go at some point in your lives! 

 For ages now, I've tried to sort out a rota for my blog because, yes, I really have neglected it and since I said to myself at the beginning of the year that 'poshballoon.blogspot' would be my open journal/diary thing I've failed to maintain a position as a writer of my life (I should release myself from the blogger world I AM UNWORTHY OF THIS TITLE).

Write soon!

Ta ta.<3

May Antics - The Three Bridges Incident

The month of May was the busiest to date and as I was a terrible human and didn't blog AT ALL I'm making up for it by doing a series of blogposts about my 'MAY ANTICS' - filled with stories and updates about what happened last month!

But first let's start with the only one thing actually sticks out in my brain and I thought, now this, this story is worthy of a blogpost.

 Stick around if you can it's awfully entertaining tale.

So my friend of god knows how long Abi and myself decided that our long-awaited trip to London should finally happen! She'd quaintly suggested that we go to a workshop/talk that she was going to and that I'd go with her! This was the Tristen Sharpe workshop - it was all fab, we had far too much coffee and got caught in the Arctic Monkeys hype at Finsbury Park station (my fault entirely) but was all in all a fantastic day. However this wouldn't be an awfully entertaining story without something going wrong and that was this. 

On our train home, which we had to wait until after 7 to get, we stopped unexpectedly at Three Bridges Station due to a tragic accident that had happened down the track. Hopeless and unsure of what would happen next, we got of the train with so many other people you would not believe it. We found without any intention of doing so, befriending two ladies who were in high spirits despite the terrible and unintentionally inconvenient event. Abi and I were herded with the rest of the crowd and our new found friends to the front of the station where we were told to wait patiently for the replacement bus services to arrive... 

Well, stranded and thoroughly pissed off by the lack of organisation and care of the train services, we retreated to the nearest pub as my phone was running shockingly low on battery and we were undeniably in need of a drink. By this time, I fail to mention we'd gained another friend and had all discovered that we were all headed south to either Brighton, Eastbourne or Hastings.

 Strangly we all found things in common and developed friendships rather quickly; I suppose in situations like that you have to, but I wouldn't have compromised those who we met on the day for anyone else! After a jaegerbomb and toilet trip, about an hour and a half into this event, we agreed that a taxi from Three Bridges would be our best bet. After one of our new found friends called various taxi ranks up, the buses started coming in but unsurprisingly with the amount of people still left at the station it turned into absolute carnage - honestly, it looked like something you'd see in the hunger games. People diving to get to the buses, crowding round, pushing, shoving etc. And we were there, the five of us like "Yeah, we've all bonded over this and we're laughing because life is too short to be negative over this NOW LET'S TAKE A SELFIE". 

In truth, we probably seemed like right insensitive bastards at the time and it was lucky that we did retreat to the Snooky Fox (yes, that was the name of the pub, but hey, let's not knock it they were very understanding of our situation) otherwise there may have been a punch up in which we would have been the cause of... not intentionally of course, it's not in any of our natures to solve a problem with violence. Alcohol and laughter: yes, that is what should solve things. ANYWAY, so the taxi came blah blah blah, we found out that they didn't hear us on the phone properly and we needed two more people blah blah QUE Russell and UKIP Peter to join the Three Bridges Clan. AND THEN WE SET OFF,

So by this time, I can imagine you feel slightly exhausted just by reading this, well imagine this happening plus feeling tired+exhausted+excited+giddy+delusional... Yep that was us. 

Russel and Peter were unlike the rest of us, both were mid 50s+ and one possessed 3 bottles of wine which they decided to swig in the taxi until we were told we couldn't (I accidentally lost the top to one of them and so Russell and Peter had to down it opposite the co-op petrol station). We then got some dosh out - I swear I spent more on the taxi than I did on the train, what an absolute outrage. 

Anyway on the journey, from when we arrived in Three Bridges at 7.50pm we were now at 11.30 and only just leaving. Abi, Brad and I were in the back laughing hysterically at the absurdity of what was happening and that after all this we were FINALLY going home! 

I should probably explain why UKIP Peter is called UKIP Peter. No he didn't support UKIP...as far as we know. He was however very 'about that life' and upon driving past a field, he slurred away about his involvement in fracking and oil or something. All I remember from that, was that I tried my very hardest to contain my laughter while Wendy said "I think I've just found Three Bridges very own Nigel Farage". 

We chatted, laughed and even came up with a sitcom; I'm still conferring with people over the idea expect something to crop on Digital Spy at some point (I jest). So yeah, that happened and Russell was awfully generous in paying for the rest of our journey from Brighton. RUSSELL IF YOU READ THIS YOU'RE A BLOODY BRILLIANT HUMAN BEING AND I SALUTE YOU SIR.

Oh yeah, we also did the Three Bridges Awards or the Taxi Awards - yes, if you ever find yourself in this position where you form a weird and wonderful bond with strangers and end up jumping into a cab with each other be sure to to the Taxi Awards (lets give it a generic term ey? Make things easier in a complex situation!) 

Abi and myself arrived home safe and well - I honestly don't know how we were still existing by that point it had been such an eventful day. Any other person would probably have knocked themselves out with a Nerf Gun but yes. 

Very eventful day and one I shall not easily forget! 

If you ever get yourself stuck in this situation, always make sure that someone knows where you are! Also surround youself with people who are in your position and you may bond - let's face it it's better than being alone!

Don't complain to the station, complain to eachother - complain after, professionally and calmly.

Wait for the bus service or honestly, just get a taxi - it may cost a little more but it'll get you home and you can always get a refund from the station. If they've dealt it badly it's their fault they can't get you home so make sure you get a refund!

Keep an eye out for more stories!

Ta ta.<3

WHAT TO WRITE-- Jack in the Green!

Knowing that there's amazing trips to come in the future excites me to no end. 

Like wow, and I mean wow.

BUT,

However much I want to write about them and let people who know what I'm going to do, I have literally no idea how to express them on me keyboard so let's talk about Mayday instead.

For those that don't know, in Hastings, my gorgeous town in which I reside, we have an annual celebration of the start of summer called Jack in the Green. We celebrate by dressing some poor soul (jack) in a tree-cage full of leaves and let half the town follow him before he is slain on a built-up stage on the west hill. This is meant to represent rebirth and growth in spring or something wonderfully uplifting along those lines.

We have the mad jacks, some scary raven people, a few milkmaids and a really, really tall mermaid! 

Of course it is a day traditionally known for vast amounts of alcohol being consumed, laughing and green paint (that will inevitably get all over anything that isn't green). And I was lucky enough to be greened on the way down to our family friends house - as well as capturing some amazingly close shots! I have a few pics on my Pinterest if you want to check them out or just head to my Facebook for the full album!

Because it was my mum's birthday the day before (may the fourth be with you), a few friends stayed down from all corners of the UK to enjoy the festivities so there was much drinking and nibbling and laughing. I can honestly say I haven't laughed so much in AGES! On the subject, Mel my mum's friend organised some morris dancers to come and dance for mum's birthday as a surprise and it was a wonderful thing seeing my mum enjoy herself! They picked her up after too - it was simply fab! Here's some footage! 

Anyway back to JITG, I met up with a few friends, stroked a few owls, bumped into a few people and just laughed like crazy person. It was truly one the best weekends (kinda, count the Monday as the weekend (bank holiday and all that))! 

Also here's a bit of face painting which my friend did for me! 

Lurrrvely! So now's a good time to ask you: DO YOU CELEBRATE JACK IN THE GREEN AND IF SO DID YOU ENJOY IT?! Are there any other Jack in the Greens apart from Hastings and if so where are dey?!

p.s I'm so sorry this post is late - tomorrow's post shall explain whyyyy!

Ta ta.<3