Absolutely buzzing.
29 March 2018 • head shave, personal, shaved head, the brain tumour charity, this is me
I
did the thing. I had my head shaved. I now have a very fuzzy, freshly
buzzed situation atop my perfectly shaped skull. My scar is 100%
visible, and I am now seeing it in full after years of just seeing
little fragments of it that would reveal themselves when I brushed my
hair, or put Bio Oil on the little line of pink that used to
protrude alongside my ear. There's no hiding it now.
It
was an unusual Friday. I was extra aware of my hair
all day. Every time I moved, I'd feel it; sliding down my neck and
under my coat collar, tangling in my rings when I ran my fingers
through it, flying across my face in the slightest breeze. The night
before I was waking every time I rolled over in bed, my hair pulling
across the pillow.
'Teechers', by John Godber; Blackeyed Theatre, 28/03/2018.
• gracie gets dramatic, Hastings, John Godber, Teechers, theatre, theatre review, White Rock Theatre
I went to see one of my favourite plays at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, on Wednesday 28th of March, performed by Blackeyed Theatre.
I studied 'Teechers' at GCSE, and some friends of mine performed it for their final practical exam, then I came across it again at A Level when we looked at texts by modern English dramatists - so it's safe to say I know this play pretty well.
'Featuring breathtaking ensemble performances and a bang-up-to-date soundtrack, Teechers brings to life an array of terrifying teachers and hopeless pupils through the unique eyes of Salty, Gail and Hobby; three Year 11 students about to leave school for good. Will Mr Nixon abandon his students for a green and pleasant Grammar school? Who puts the bounce in Miss Prime, the PE teacher? Will Mrs Parry ever find her Koko? And why does everyone smell of spring onions?'
(Source: whiterocktheatre.org.uk)
I studied 'Teechers' at GCSE, and some friends of mine performed it for their final practical exam, then I came across it again at A Level when we looked at texts by modern English dramatists - so it's safe to say I know this play pretty well.
'Featuring breathtaking ensemble performances and a bang-up-to-date soundtrack, Teechers brings to life an array of terrifying teachers and hopeless pupils through the unique eyes of Salty, Gail and Hobby; three Year 11 students about to leave school for good. Will Mr Nixon abandon his students for a green and pleasant Grammar school? Who puts the bounce in Miss Prime, the PE teacher? Will Mrs Parry ever find her Koko? And why does everyone smell of spring onions?'
(Source: whiterocktheatre.org.uk)
A Feminist Fiction Q&A; with Sophie Cameron - author of 'Out of the Blue'!
23 March 2018 • author, author interview, bookish, Out of the Blue, UKYA
My latest YA read was Sophie Cameron's astonishing debut, 'Out of the Blue'!
I was lucky enough to be sent a proof before publication (but of course that in no way affects my review!) and when I was given the opportunity to interview Sophie via email about her wonderfully unusual, gripping and feminist novel, I couldn't say no!
Hysteria mounting with every Being that drops, Jaya’s father uproots the family to Edinburgh intent on catching one alive. But Jaya can’t stand this obsession and, struggling to make sense of her mother’s sudden death and her own role on that fateful day, she’s determined to stay out of it.
I was lucky enough to be sent a proof before publication (but of course that in no way affects my review!) and when I was given the opportunity to interview Sophie via email about her wonderfully unusual, gripping and feminist novel, I couldn't say no!
Ten
days after Jaya Mackenzie’s mum dies, angels start falling from the
sky. Smashing down to earth at extraordinary speeds, wings bent,
faces contorted, not a single one has survived.
Hysteria mounting with every Being that drops, Jaya’s father uproots the family to Edinburgh intent on catching one alive. But Jaya can’t stand this obsession and, struggling to make sense of her mother’s sudden death and her own role on that fateful day, she’s determined to stay out of it.
When
her best friend disappears and her father’s mania spirals, things
hit rock bottom and it’s at that moment something extraordinary
happens: An angel lands right at Jaya’s feet, and it’s alive.
Finally she is forced to acknowledge just how significant these
celestial beings are.
Set
against the backdrop of the frenzied Edinburgh festival, OUT OF THE
BLUE tackles questions of grief and guilt and fear over who we really
are. But it’s also about love and acceptance and finding your place
in this world as angels drop out of another.
(synopsis via Goodreads)
35.
21 March 2018 • about me, facts
My name's Grace.
My
current Netflix addictions are 'Queer Eye' and 'Suits', I desperately
want to travel around Europe this summer, Quorn vegan smoked 'ham'
slices are magical, I haven't worn dangling earrings for years,
kissing means a lot to me, I have a perfectly shaped skull, I'm
actually in the latest issue of Blogosphere
Magazine, I'm every kind of petty, Meghan Markle's gorgeous smile
makes me want to cry, I believe in energies, I can't sing, nurses
tell me my skin is especially thick and my veins are deep, I am a
happy drunk, photography fascinates me, and I hate Ross Geller.
I've recently raised over £3,500 for The Brain Tumour Charity and over £400 for my local counselling charity by shaving my head. I'm up for the former's Influencer of the Year Award, and I'd really love to win it. Vote for me, maybe?
Gaining weight...in a good way!
11 March 2018 • body love, body positivity, bowels, Hannah Witton, health, personal, self care, surgery
It’s been a while since my last body positivity post, and I haven’t rambled on about my very poor health in a few months either! Shocking. Let’s fix that immediately...
(Artist:
Frances Cannon)
This post was inspired by the awesome Hannah Witton, who recently had a hideous flare up of her ulcerative colitis which led to her colon being removed, and a stoma fitted. She then returned to YouTube and social media after 4 weeks in hospital, with a 23-minute vlog in which she told we subscribers and the rest of the world all about her recent horrendous experiences. I watched this video and found myself nodding and welling up when she said things I could 110% relate to, having had major bowel surgeries myself, and was amazed at her positivity and frankness. So yeah, big up Hannah. She is infinitely badass.
Recent Reads #10: The 6th of 2018.
10 March 2018 • bookish, Charli Howard, misfit, recent reads
My
6th read of 2018 was the wonderfully inspiring model, speaker
and body positivity ambassador Charli
Howard’s hilarious
– and at times heartbreaking – memoir, ‘Misfit’.
I
was sent a copy of this book by the lovely Simon at
Penguin Random House (he clearly just *knew* this book
was totally up my street); this in no way affects my review.
[TW: eating disorders]
Stable, angry, and proud.
2 March 2018 • brain cancer, personal, proud, the brain tumour charity, the tumour tale
'I’m
stable,' I tell my counsellor. 'Have been for over a year
now.' I'm saying it, but still can't quite believe it.
'That’s
fantastic,' she replies, smiling with a warmth I swear I can
feel on my skin from across the room.
'I
saw some new scan photos,' I say. 'Actually, do you want to
see?'
Then
I'm kneeling on the carpet in front of her, swiping through my photos
I took of my neurosurgeon's computer at my consultation the week
before. I happily point out the wonderful man’s reflection in the
screen.
I
eventually return to my seat, and the counsellor says 'thank you
for sharing. It’s amazing – I’ve never actually seen photos
like that before.'
When
I leave the building and walk along the little street and up the hill
towards the car park, I can’t stop thinking, why?
Why did I show her those photos?!
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