Three Days In Dublin

Hey Guys, 

I Know, I know it's been awhile but I'm back! and I trust that you have all been well and stayed safe in my absence? 

In this post, I want to share my experiences of going to Dublin for a week with my parents and the exciting things I got up to while I was there. 

Now I live in the East of England and while I was away, it had apparently been terrible weather and no one quite believed that it was lovely and hot in Dublin, so hot that I got sunburned! YES, I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFUL! but when you are having this much fun and your mother forgets the sun lotion you just have to live with it! 

The first day we got there I didn't really take any picture other than on my phone with got uploaded to my Instagram (linked). We just ended up exploring the area around the river Liffey  and getting some dinner in this little American diner style restaurant called "Eddie Rockets" we all agreed it was probably one of the best American meals we have had for a while!

On the second day, we did a Hop On Hop Off Bus tour of Dublin, showing us all the sights and telling us the history of the different areas of the city. Seeing Trinity College, The house where Oscar Wilde was born and the church he was christened, we stayed on the bus all the way around and then walked back to find the places we wanted to visit like the Oscar Wilde relaxing on a rock statue, the statue of Molly Malone and the natural history museum that is known by locals as the "dead zoo"

"The Museum houses one of the world's finest and fullest collections still to be seen today. Two million species, of which roughly half are insects, live side by side with, appropriately for a natural history museum, decorated and sculptured panels depicting mythological figures."

- http://www.visitdublin.com/see-do/details/national-museum-of-ireland-natural-history/31265/#53.339844|-6.253360|16

We then headed up to the Guinness Factory which we hadn't realised was quite a walk from where we were!
Whilst we were there I had my first taste of the drink. and honestly, it has probably ruined all other experiences trying it back here in England because I have heard from so many people how different it tastes! It was a great experience all in all!

That evening we went over to this kind of canal area near by the river, it seemed to be the favourite hangout for the local business men and women, taking a pack of beer and just hanging out till the sun sets. it was peaceful and beautiful and nothing like we could ever do in England without there being a problem

On the third and final day in Dublin, we had breakfast at the hotel and walked over to the Jameson factory in order to catch the Hop On Hop Off bus tour to do the other part of the city. After an hour and a half wait, we decided it was time to get coffee because we weren't getting the bus anytime soon, that was for sure!
We then walked over to the temple bar district and did a bit of shopping before heading back to the hotel to collect our bags and leave for the airport!

All in all, it was an amazing few days spent with my parents, quality time we wouldn't normally get at home. I would love to go back and explore the city some more, just walking around without a map and getting lost. I feel like that is the best way to explore a place you have never visited before.

Without Further ado I will leave you with some pictures from my trip.
Thank You So Much For Reading This Post!
What do you think is the best way to explore somewhere new?
Love,
B xxx

Birth Place Of Oscar Wilde

            

Oscar Wilde Statue

         

Oscar Wilde Quotes

In the 'Dead Zoo'

                                        

Molly Malone

Guinness

 

Temple Bar Mural 

H'apenny Bridge

What I Have Been Up to So Far...

Hey Guys, 

So I have a confession to make. I have been a very bad blogger. Its no secret that I am terrible at managing my time, I was doing so well this summer to get posts out for you guys to read, and since joining University that has gone down hill. Because of this I owe you an apology, I will try to plan ahead and write more posts in advance so that I have content to post each week!

Since September I have been working Long hours at work, being named "chief weekender" by my manager ( I think this is just because I have been there so long!) On November 21st 2015 I had been at WH Smiths for 2 years, that is a long time for any weekend staff because usually they leave after about a year and a half to go to university, I am very fortunate to be able to keep my job and go to university were I am.

 In University news I had my first deadline on the 13th of November, This was taking up the majority of my time, which is also why this blog had to take a kind of back seat. 

Doing a Degree in photography is different and so much more difficult than A Level, you have to put a lot of time and effort into it otherwise you just won't get the grades. You have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to "get the shot". 

More recently, one of my friends, Raiona (blog linked) asked me to take some pictures for her to use on said blog. If you haven't checked her out you should, she is an amazing, talented writer who shares thoughts, opinions, advice and even the odd recipe! Rai's blog is well worth the read and i can guarantee if you like the things I write about, you will LOVE her! (That might be my very biased opinion but you should judge for yourself), It was about time I shared her content with all you lovely people. I will share the images I took in another post when I have edited and shared them with her. 

You can follow my journey through my degree on my photography blog (linked)

I know this is a short post, but hey its only been a couple of months! 

Love, 

Becca xx
  

University Part 2

Hey guys! 

So, after I posted university part 1 I fully intended to post a part 2 a week later. 

However I got swept up with university life and found it hard to keep on with my blog and getting my assignments done! 

What can I say, 7 Weeks later  and my fears and anxieties are gone. With commuting to Norwich I found it quite hard having got be up at 6:00 every morning just to be in for lectures starting at 9:00 it was physically draining especially with my recent increase in hours at work. i was getting to the point where something was going to have to give. 

I can say now that after the first week i was only having to be in for 9:00 twice a week which made it so much more bearable! and being in work for 7:30 on a Saturday became easier and easier, it is really all about adapting your sleep patterns and your body getting accustomed to the early starts ( it helped that I do drink a lot of coffee!!!!)

I have made so many new friends, that my mum calls "my own kind" which i find quite funny, I am really enjoying my course and I am learning a lot! 

However when we go into workshops we get given a number and told to go stand with the other people that have that number, this is quite a downside when you get split up from the friends you've made an effort to make! 

Despite this it hasn't put me off going into uni, the lecturers and really good and passionate about the subject but they are also willing to help if you need it. I was really struggling at first, I didn't know how to use my camera in manual mode and I also didn't have a clue about the lighting equipment, this was only because the equipment at my old school was very minimal and we barely got to use it. I was like a fish out of water. It was good to make friends that were in the same position as me. 

By far, the best part about my University if our Friday morning lectures, yes it is an early morning one, however each week is a different guest lecturer, some are students that have graduated in previous years and others and fully fledged photographers that have had a long career! It makes me excited to continue with the course and get somewhere. 

The people on my course are all so lovely, we all get along with everyone which makes it so much easier when we get split up into groups. Like today for example, none of my friends were in my workshop because of other things going on and we got split into groups for our lighting workshop (Disclaimer: I had worked with the people in my group before) and the rest of my group helped to put the equipment up ( something I'm still getting my head around) and we just had fun with what we were doing, I haven't laughed that much in  a long while. 

For anyone that is worried about starting university in September ( I know its less that a year away but still!) I would say don't be, it is one of the best experiences you could have, everyone else is in the same position as you, and there is always help available if you need it. I have always been quite a shy reserved person but I found just going up to people on your course and saying "Hi" is one of the best things you can do! 

And just remember, Be you, there is no one else better. 

Love, 

Becca xx

P.s. If you want to read my photography blog i have put together for my course the link is:

rebeccaedwardsphotography.blogspot.co.uk

University Part 1

Hey Guys, 

There are so many stigmas attached to University. We all have expectations of what University is like built up through movies and TV shows.

There are also so many emotions that go along with starting at University. Personally I'm feeling scared and Anxious. It's a new step in my life, from past experiences new situations and I don't get on well together. Despite this I am excited. I'm going to a city that I love, Doing a course that I want to do. A course in the subject I love. Progressing further into my future doing something that is ultimately what I want to do. I'm going to a new place with new people that don't know my history, they don't know who I was two years ago to who I am now.

Right now I am the best version of me that I have been for a long while. I am in control of my anxieties, I am in control of me.

The thing I am most looking forward to is being able to express who I am without rules and regulations. I can discover who I am as a person, I can come out of my shell and be more of an extrovert rather than an introvert. Yet I feel this is easier said than done.
Everyone is in the same boat we are expected to be on edge and a shadow of ourselves.

University is a new and exciting experience and I can't wait to get stuck into the thick of it!


love,
Becca



Disclaimer : this post is posted 2 weeks after starting university! sorry for the delay xxx