That Time I Turned 16

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Monday, 12 October 2015

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So, as some of you are aware, it was my birthday on Saturday. I turned 16, an age that many people put a lot of pressure on. 

One of the first things someone said to me was “How does it feel to be 16?”. I, of course, answered how I would always answer such a question: “Just like I did yesterday.” For that’s what we really celebrate when we have our birthdays: an extra day of living. One second I was 15, then the next I was an entire year older, apparently capable of more in many people’s eyes.

16 has always seemed like such a “grown-up” age to me. Many Disney princesses are 16, many characters from YA books are 16, many characters from films are 16, and that made me, as a little girl, view the age of 16 as much more mature and adult than I feel now.

At the moment I don’t feel adult or grown-up in any way in the slightest. I am willing myself not to grow up as I don’t want to - I want to stay young and responsibility free, but I know that can never be the case unless time suddenly stops and we all stop ageing for the rest of eternity. 

But, even though I still want to remain a little kid forever, I did enjoy my birthday. I enjoyed it a great deal. 

My grandparents had been down the week prior and they stayed until 10am, in order to wish me happy birthday and see me as I opened their presents - something I really loved as we don’t get to see them as much as did before our move.

That afternoon, my mum and I went to Winchester to do some browsing in the shops. Despite having lived relatively near the city for little over a year, I had not set foot into the Winchester city itself (something many of my friends kept urging me to do, seeing as it is - and I quote - a very “Jemima” place). 


Needless to say they were correct in assuming I would love it as the whole place filled me with an excited buzz I rarely get. The high street was gorgeous, new shops housed in old (and very cute!) buildings, mixed with independent shops all different kinds. There was a market on, which naturally brought a variety of different sellers, products and people. It’s fair to say it enthralled me. Each little avenue, coffee shop and stall. And there was even a place that sold scones with clotted cream and jam - my favourite!



In the evening, me, my family and some of our family friends went out to a local Indian restaurant where we were stuffed silly with plenty of curry, onion bhajis and papadums!

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and to everyone who made it an absolutely fantastic day!

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5 things I achieved when I was 15

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Friday, 9 October 2015

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My sixteenth birthday is tomorrow, bringing a whole new year of madness into my already chaotic life. This in mind, I thought I would share with you 5 things that my 15-year-old self has achieved:

1. Settled into a school 200 miles away from my home

Those of you who are new here may be thinking that I travel 200 miles to school every day – that’s not what I meant! Last year I moved 200 miles from sunny Wales to a slightly sunnier England, thereby starting at a new secondary school (you can read my post about it here).  This was very difficult for me, but given little time I felt a lot more comfortable in my new surroundings – having met some amazing people who made me feel right at home. Even if the place I still consider home is hundreds of miles away.

2. Travelled across Britain alone via train

In the Easter of this year I went back home for a week. Staying with my grandparents, I had an incredibly busy week seeing a lot of friends in various different parts of the county.

But, of course, I had to get there somehow. My brother was going away on scout camp that week and with my parents working they could not bring me down themselves. This lead to me, with violin, suitcase and backpack in tow, heading across half of England through to South Wales where I would meet my grandparents at their tiny local station.

This was a big thing for me, as, while I was very used to trains and the way they worked, I would be totally alone. By myself, and among strangers. I felt comfortable during the journey, but it was tiring and afterwards I felt relieved that it was over.

3. Written 24,500 words of a novel!

I started writing this novel about 5/6 months ago and ever since I have fallen in love with my characters. I actually wrote a post about how I wish I could have more time with them, but life inevitably gets in the way and I can’t have my way. But, hopefully, it will be completed by this time next year.

4. Gained self-confidence

When I first became 15 I was not in a very self-confident state of mind. Having just moved 200 miles away from the place I call home, I knew little about the people I now call my friends and felt very insecure about myself as a person. Now, I consider self-love, self-respect and self-confidence to be a journey. Yes, I have used the dreaded J-word. Maybe at some point in the future I'll write a whole blog post about this, seeing as it does deserve more than just a paragraph. However, I am proud of the steps I have taken in the past year to feel comfortable and happy in both my body and my mind and  am sure that what I have learnt about myself will remain with me for a good long while.

5. I started a blog!

7 months into my 15th year I created a new small space on the Internet, that I could fill with all my thoughts, dreams, opinions and musings. I fell in love with everything that surrounds blogging. I called my blog Another Ranting Reader and I started posting on there 3 times a week. And I won’t be stopping any time soon.






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Autumn Fever

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Wednesday, 7 October 2015

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It’s reached that time of year again, when the leaves turn yellow and become crisp and fragile. The rain decides to fall down announced only by the moody sky, ready to pound the ground and our homes ruthlessly. The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer – shortening our time outside, and forcing us to turn on extra lights so that our houses look like little mini suns -  glowing and shining a yellow colour. The air has gotten colder luring us back indoors where we stoke our fires.

Honestly, it’s my favourite time of year. Everything just seems better in the autumn. Don’t ask me why, for I could not tell you. But there’s something in the air… something indiscernible that makes the world of difference.

Maybe it’s the thought of the Christmas drinks coming back onto the Starbucks and Costa menus, or the pre-Christmas buzz that seems to be present everywhere you go – I just know that I love everything about this time of year. And a lot of my friends do too.


Summer can tend to be too hot. Sweltering and sticky days await us, even here in the UK. Something that, certainly for me, is not desirable in the slightest. I hate humidity and honestly prefer a good night in, wrapped up in old jumpers with a large mug of tea, than out in the ridiculous heat.

Not that I don’t like the summer. It’s just that, for some reason or another, things seem to be more awkward and inconvenient in the summer.

We all seem to look forward to the time when autumn comes back around again. (Once September is over and done with usually, for those of us still at school.) It’s a general love of this time of year that fills us all with happiness – however rainy it may be.

The colours of the season bring the world alive, when really the opposite is happening. Golds and browns and yellows and greys; these colours are beautiful and captivating.

Maybe, in the end, that’s why I am in awe of Autumn.

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Why I Love Coffee Shops

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Monday, 5 October 2015

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There’s something about coffee shops – big brand and independent – that I really love. They fascinate me.

One of my favourite things to do is to just sit, preferably with some tea to hand, and people watch. For coffee shops are, well and truly, the best place to do so. Coffee shops attract people from all walks of life; people who are so very different to myself, yet are, almost certainly, similar to me n more ways than one.

There are old ladies and new mums meeting up for a catch-up over cake, noisy families trying their hardest to quieten down their little ones, couples – both young and old – best friends, gaggles of teenagers coming in after school, and there are those who work in solitary, with their computers and notebooks stretched out across a table. All of whom have voices that carry through the air to anyone who happens to be listening.

I know it’s often deemed bad to eavesdrop, but I find that it’s my best source of inspiration. From brief snippets of overheard conversation we can learn so much about the way we work as humans. To hear the funny things the people around me say and do; the stories they tell and the emotion and drama they tell them with, is a real treat.

At some point, when I am listening to a group, I will always end up with a smile on my face. Humanity never ceases to amaze me. Whether it’s a little kid and their mother, or an insignificant, all-important chat amongst friends. Greatness, kindness, happiness and love are integral, vital, ingredients of making us human.


And coffee shops are, and will probably always be, the best place to view that. In all its flawed and beautiful glory.






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5 of my favourite Disney soundtracks

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Friday, 2 October 2015

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I made a post a few weeks ago now, where I listed my top 5 Disney songs. Now, as much as I love those songs and the films they go in, the soundtracks they belong to do not necessarily rank similarly in my opinion. So, I thought that I would show you guys those rankings today:

5. Beauty and The Beast

Tale as Old as Time, Be Our Guest, Belle… All beautifully written and encapturing songs. This was one of my favourite Disney films as a kid and these songs will remain special to me for a long time, I am sure.

4. Mulan

As this is my favourite Disney film ever, I believe that this truly deserves a place on this list. Every song is brilliant, in the way that they capture emotions and beliefs of that time and, what can often be, underlying beliefs of our on time. I could belt out the lyrics to I’ll Make Man Out of You anytime.

3. Hercules

My all time favourite Disney song (I Won’t Say I’m In Love) is part of this soundtrack, so how could I not include it on this list? However, that song isn’t the only one that brings it up to number 3 on my list. I really love all of the songs in this production, particularly with the Muses narrating, singing backup to Megara and taking pride of place in songs of their own.

2. The Little Mermaid

This film is famous for songs such as Under the Sea, Poor Unfortunate Souls and Kiss the Girl, all of which have incredibly catchy lyrics and tunes. I don’t know anyone who dislikes these songs and they are brilliant.

1. Cinderella!

 Oh my word! I cannot even attempt to describe to you how much I bloomin’ love this soundtrack! I absolutely adore the voices that came out of the 40s/50s era and the whole style of music at that time. That sort of music just makes me so happy and calm, and the true beauty of Ilene Woods’ voice takes centre stage in this film. The whole thing has a wonderful classic feel about it and, as it is one of Disney’s most classic films, that is quite rightly so.

via Cinderella 1950 film

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Jemima x





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