As I'm sat here besides my contently snoring dog, I'm feeling quite nostalgic for the summer that has just passed. While it's flashed by, there were so many highlights, that I feel like I would like to write a little about these last few months before we head into the cooler Autumn. (and I lose my mind)
With the start of the summer, I was invited to How the Light gets In Festival in Hay-on-Wye to be part of the Glitter Girl team. Rosie who is the boss lady gave me the opportunity to step into her sparkly world and since then I've spent most of my summer covered in glitter or finding it around me. The festival sparked a lovely friendship between us all and I was asked to volunteer at Nozstock festival with her in July. Needless to say, I cannot recount everything from that weekend on here (or at all) nevertheless it will stay in my mind as a fabulous, crazy mush of colour, music and love. I hadn't been since 2013, so it was a nostalgic trip to revisit the same place with different people!
Just before Noz, I went home to Hungary to make the annual summer trip to see my family. This is always one of my highlights of the year and I look at it as a little retreat from reality. Being around my Mama (grandmother) gives me the motivation and strength to be kinder and more gentle, her selflessness is always something I aspire too. Plus her cooking is off the chain, I always take stretchy shorts with me so after our three course lunch I can lie out on the swinging chair and fall asleep in the afternoon sun. We all know that's the dream right?
The goodbyes never get any easier, and while it's only 2 and a half hours on a plane, it's a very long distance when you miss someone. Luckily, I found myself to have enough money in my account for once, so impulsively bought a ticket back home for Christmas which I'm excitedly waiting for. I'll be ringing Mama to start stocking up the pantry for my arrival...you can never be too organised.
At the end of July, I was honoured to be asked by my best friend Lucy to attend her graduation ceremony at Hereford Cathedral. The day marked the ending of student life, but the start of her exciting journey into real life and I couldn't be any prouder of her than I am now. Spending the day celebrating with her parents and boyfriend was a great end to her hard work over the three years; through the all nighters, tears and paper cuts, she came through the other side as a talented, kind hearted woman with her sense of humour still intact. I hope I can share my graduation next year with her as we have been by each others side for over three years and supported one another when we needed it most. My life encourager, I love you Luc!
Throughout August I was in the middle of my first official dog sitting job, landed with a welsh collie called Jem. He is only one year old, and I'm not going to lie, my first thought was something like "Collie. Puppy. My house. Disaster" Im glad to report that I was so wrong. I had him for just under 4 weeks and the amount of fun my family and I had with him was unforgettable. He was so well behaved and considerate towards my dog who is definitely past his puppy playing days, I was taken aback by the bond they had together. What was also unforgettable, was when we went to the park and he rolled himself into poo... human poo no less and my job as dog sitter became very serious and very shitty. The bathtub has never had such a thorough cleaning in all it's life, and neither have I. (The perks of the job I guess) Just writing about him now, I realise how much I enjoyed his playful company, I look forward to meeting up in the park with his family.
Also, whilst Jem was staying with me, I went to visit my good friends who recently moved from Hereford to Bournemouth and who own the best Beagle in the world (my adopted son) A few days getaway by the sea with amazing company and lots of dogs was exactly what I needed. The change of scenery was refreshing and reminded me how much I would like to live by the sea one day, the wind in our hair and sand between our toes was all we needed. Thank you Ramirez and Cinthia for your kindness and friendship, we miss you here everyday.
Obviously, I will have to write a little about Cyprus as it's probably been one of the most profound, interesting and exciting trips I've ever taken, and independently too. I realised that there is no better time than now to do things, I booked this residency without knowing what to expect and I don't think I was ready at that time. It took a long time for it to come around I never thought I leave, but arriving there, I knew that it was exactly what I wanted and needed. Everything from the location of the college, the ocean, the other artists who have become friends, the space in the studios, it was all familiar to me as if I had experienced it before. I fell straight into the Cyprus artist life and I loved every minute of it. Even just laying in a hammock with a book and a coffee felt so important to me, and I was able to write a lot and reflect on life as well as art.
Being there I felt we were all part of a little community held together with creativity and stories, and that was something I had never really experienced before. Obviously in Uni we have a similar environment but it does feel different because of academic side involved in it, here there was no ego's and no deadlines, just genuine, heartfelt, hilarious conversations that flowed into the night. In those moments, I knew that I wanted to be nowhere else and it had me thinking about my future travel plans, about all the people I will talk to and all the places I will fall in love with.
This post is getting lengthy so I will bring it to a close before I recount every detail of every day.
The days have flown by; I have drunk too much coffee, smoked too much, laughed often and written mostly everyday. I have spent time with people I have missed greatly, I have met some beautiful, interesting people who have inspired me to be excited for life and embrace each day, I have said goodbye to an old part of me so that I can grow some more this year and the year after. I feel like I'm ready to get back to uni and begin creating crazy things with crazy people (my favourite) and become more independent in my life. Even just saying that makes me feel waaaay too adult.
As my sister says "I have an attitude of Gratitude" and everything this summer, this year has really made me feel grateful to be here and doing what I love.
x
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