March's Favourite...

Since I've started to work from home and at my favourite little coffee shop in town, I've been listening to a lot more music... Maybe a little much since sometimes I don't even hear the songs after a while.

Anyways... I've gathered a few songs, few of my favourites as well as an album that will be coming up soon! 

So let's start with FUR. A band from Brighton, indie and not too popular which makes me want to listen to them more. Came across this band by accident via YouTube and since then it's been playing around. There's something about the band that is catchy... So if you enjoy Indie go for it...

Next stop will be Banners. A musician from Liverpool who only started a few years ago. I first heard "Shine A Light" and then heard another song from a tv series "The Good Doctor" on episode 17. Since then I've been enjoying listening to this musician who I believe has a talent. 

Catfish and the Bottlemen is a Welsh indie rock band who I've fallen in love with. I cannot get enough of their songs, between the music as well as the lyrics. Got to first hear them back in 2007 when their first album came out, but since then, I've come across amazing songs... 

Another band which have been playing for a while now is The Wombats which is an indie rock band from Liverpool. "Kill the Director" was the first song that made me like the band as it is quite different from what I used to listen to. Still active and still going strong...

One of my 'lover boy' as to be Tom Grennan. Singer based in London caught my attention with one song ' This Is the Age' and then multiple songs followed. His voice definitely gives you chills... Plus I can't deny how handsome he is, what a bonus...

My recent discovery got me back 'home', Ireland. A young Dubliner, Dermot Kennedy, inspired a lot of my current creative writing. Calm but yet powerful voice, amazing songs got me to think a lot. His music is a blend of a whole lot got me intrigued and since then, I haven't got tired of listening to him. Homesick...

The album which is supposed to come out on the 5th of April is called "What's It Like Over There?" from my favourite band, Circa Waves. If you haven't heard from them it's an indie rock band from Liverpool. Despite being my favourite band, I truly believe they deserve a lot more credit for their music as well as their videos... Cannot wait for the new album but for now, I've got a little peak on what's coming up... 

Music has always been my cup of tea but I've recently listened to many more songs, and I cannot get over them all! 

~Bella

What a start...

If you have read a few of my last posts, I mentioned how I was looking for an apartment...

Well, good news! Someone has accepted me as of last month. The end of February has been about trying to get furniture for the place and where I could get the cheap but good ones.
Moving at the end of March, and I couldn't get more excited.

Despite the obvious relief I have, the stress hasn't left entirely. I need to figure out the finances aspect of the situation as well as get myself to work but also get the apartment figured out. Not a huge problem, but it does affect my anxiety as it is tax month pretty soon (it has been tax month since January for me). I've got my taxes to pay, all the furniture, groceries, and rent for the current place as well as the down-payment for the new place.
Enough about money...

The new apartment is 46m2 which is pretty big for one person but since I work from home, I might as well take the advantage of having the possibility of a big apartment. White floors, each room disposition is perfect and there are enough windows to let some light in. Big enough kitchen since I love to cook, I will take pleasure in my kitchen. And then there is the bathroom which has a bathtub... Candles and a good glass of wine will take the edge off for sure.
The bedroom leads to a small room which I will make my office! I cannot wait to turn the place into a cosy, quiet, modern but yet classy with books everywhere.

This apartment will be my very first one, one that I won't have to share with someone else and I cannot wait to decorate as I please. Eat whenever and whatever I want. To shower whenever, and to sleep full nights.
Like I said, I cannot wait...

It's not just an apartment, it's a new start, a way to get something fresh, something good in my life without worries. And maybe it will be a way for me to start asking for help, to do things with others instead of dealing with it all by myself. Get checked up by a doctor for my health which was not doing good at all.
I would never imagine myself set myself in France for a while before going back to my "home". Seems like I needed to get back to France first and finish a few things before starting my real life back in Ireland...

I will post a few photos as soon as I move into the new place...

~Bella

"I'll give you that..."

February...

Short month but full of excitement! 

One, my brother's birthday, 19th birthday, still cannot believe it! 
Second, Valentine's Day which will be not sure how... Single squad!
Third, still, apartment hunting, send help!

Despite all the good energy that I've been trying to send my ways, it's hard to keep a clear mind, a positive attitude when you miss home (Ireland), when you miss friends ( I won't say names but I do miss the "Peanut" calling), when there are family issues, and when no one is helpful in the apartment hunting. 
The one thing that has been bothering me is how one of my friends left home for the air force. That one piece of news hit hard. Not sure how to view such an action especially coming from such a brilliant person. I ain't against military actions and such but when it comes to having a good friend leave... There's something that triggers a part of you to hate the military. 
How many families have been broken by their loved ones going? 
How many of them didn't return? 
How many of them did return but still struggle with PTSD? 
How many families are waiting for news?
So many questions and the only person that has left for the military is a friend, I don't know how the family can cope because I miss having my friend around. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm all the way in Europe, it was already difficult to keep in touch every day, but we tried to keep in touch whenever between text messages, emails, phone calls... I could go on... 

I'm sure he is proud to serve the country any possible way, but I'm not entirely sure how to take that news myself. How to take the fact that he is gone... 

When he broke the news to me, I cried myself that night, not thinking positively at all. All I could do is just watch "Dear John". Talk about romance and broken heart and military life... Go figure, when you are sad, you watch more sad films... 

Serving your country is amazing, you should be proud if you have served or if you know someone who does. What I don't like is you see your loved ones leave... The long waiting periods for them to call, message, or come home to you. I know I would be able to endure it for love, but I hate not knowing if they are coming back or not. 
Love/ Hate relationship if you say the least. 

I guess you could say I'm starting to worry despite my own self being in a different country than him. 

People who are dealing with this type of situation should be proud of themselves and the ones who have left...

~Bella

January 2019

Sick on Dry January...

If you don't know what Dry January is well it's pretty much a month where you restrain yourself from drinking any alcoholic drink... I'll find a way to drink nonetheless, Dry Cider? Dry Wine? Dry Gin? 

Every year, people set goals, resolutions and I'm sure many achieve what they come up with, but I ain't one these people. I tend to mess up and give up if I write too long of a list. One at a time is best... This year, Dry January kind of came at the right time with me being sick.

I caught a bad cold that gave me a touch time with back and neck issues. Coughing, stuffy nose (I can't sleep right when my breathing isn't there). Anyways, you get what the entire "sick" part means. 

Not sure if I underestimate the weather in France, but the cold is different from where I was. And trust me, Ireland's cold is rather better a little less humid if I may say. So I had to buy myself a better scarf and two sweaters because I can live on sweaters. 

Not entirely sure what I want from 2019, I expected things to go differently in 2018 so now... I have to set my new future right, get my things organized, think about the long journey I have ahead; if you have any suggestions on how to manage it all, please feel free to comment. I want help! I need help!

All I know is that even if obstacles comes through, I'll make it alright... 

Actually, it reminds me of 'The Blind Side' with Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Lily Collins and Jae Head. The film is about a white, Christian family that takes a young coloured kid into their home, give him a family he can count on. 

Let's move on from the whole what it is about to how important and how life lessons were given. First, it's based on a real story which makes it even sadder or happier. Watch the film then you will understand how much crying will happen. 

Second, despite colour skin and different backgrounds, a family changed a young kid's life just like he changed theirs. 

And finally, despite what others may say, think or do, believe what you are doing is the right thing. The mother took a huge decision, the family had to make choices, the kid, himself, had to manage changes. That woman deserves a lot more credit, people such as this family deserve credit. It's wonderful to be there for someone who needs it. 

If you haven't watched this film, go watch it, it has to be on Netflix or stream it. It deserves a watch or read (it's also a book). I truly admire the family, admire what they achieved, how far they have come even with obstacles, they kept going...

And to keep on going can be hard at times... 

This is why 2019 may not be my year, but I will make it mine. I will give all my best to make it an 'alright' year, a successful year. Tough one ahead, but nothing good comes easy! You should remember that! 

For now, I'll try to survive this bloody cold, noisy cough, and unbearable stuffy nose. If you are sick yourself, ginger and honey help. For me, it's tea and chocolate... But if you have a pint of Guinness go ahead it will make you feel better! 

Happy New Year!

~Bella

Welcome 2019

Happy New Year!

A week already in the new year and I'm sick. Nothing too exciting, it happens every year. Normally, it's an entire week of suffering, but this time, I really don't want to go to the doctors so I'm ignoring it by drinking lots of tea and soup. I would have gone for a pint of Guinness, but France does not have good ones, so no drinking for a  while. Dry January of a sort... We'll see if it works... 


As many of you may already know, some of us are into making goals, plans for the coming year. And the rest of us, we already know that the goals we want to achieve just won't work so we just don't have resolutions... I'm in the category where we know, we just don't do it. 
Oh, don't get it wrong, I have plans, but it will take a while to do what I want to achieve. I'm not fully ready... 

For now, I'm going to get medication in my system, try to survive another few days of this sickness and I'll be back and running on the blog. 
Sorry, I caught a bad cold especially at the start of 2019.  

Hope you all had a wonderful celebration and good luck for the coming year! 

~Bella

Christmas Little Joys

Christmas is approaching faster than expected and I'm beyond EXCITED! 
As you may already know, Christmas is my favourite holiday (it hasn't come close to my favourite time of the year though, the first day of Autumn), and feeling jolly is quite a perk during December! 

Between the movies and the songs that have been playing on my laptop, phone or even outside in the streets, I've been even more homesick than usual. You cannot imagine how much I want to be in Ireland at this moment, being able to breathe fresh air (somehow the air isn't the same in France), drink my tea with a full creamy, perfect milk and being able to order a pint of Guinness knowing it's going to be amazingly delicious... Sounds horrid, pathetic, nonetheless all that, I managed to get a few things to cheer me up, it is Christmas time after all. Everyone should be happy! 

First off... A friend of mine got a tiny Christmas Tree, called him Norbert (don't ask why that name, I don't know myself... He just decided Norbert was a good idea which is entirely debatable). We couldn't get a tree at my place, my friend isn't into Christmas and we live with a cat that would have destroyed the tree no matter what. So I got a tree at my friend's place, good thing I go there enough to see it!

Then... We've got the homesick feeling that is back. I want to be back in Ireland, badly, and I can't. A friend back home was asking when I was coming back, not knowing what to tell him made me feel awful. Also a big part of why I'm so homesick these past few days. I paused the Christmas films and decided to get back on Irish TV... Laugh at me all you want but you've got to understand that Irish TV for me is pretty much, friends hanging around on the couch, drinking tea, eating cookies or crips, and watching programmes such as Gogglebox or the Naked Attraction which are both British programmes. I mean it's funny and I missed watching it in the evening when we had a long day of work. For a few days now, all I've been watching is Gogglebox and there are about twelve seasons so I'm caught up for a while which makes me happy. 

Next stop...I've been cooking again, and this time without red wine to distract me. I usually drink while cooking, either a beer or red wine just to keep me going. A way to enjoy cooking to the fullest. Made this simple spinach, artichoke and chicken recipe, it was delicious, didn't last two days like I anticipated, let's blame my dear friend who I live with... 

Christmas has been good, too much shopping for others but I don't regret one bit! Cool presents are going to be given and I'm proud of it. 
This time... I'm mostly looking forward to the new year which will be coming after Christmas Day. Getting a fresh new start sounds wonderful especially after this year. Not sure why 2017 and 2018 were terrible years between fires, mudslides, deaths, my health going bad, a dream coming to an end, and so on. I just want the year to be over so I can look forward to the next Christmas and this time... I'll be preparing my list of presents a bit earlier! No offence to the late buyers who loves the rush but I hate to not have my gifts on time! 

Enjoy your Christmas and family if you are with them. I know I'll be spending it with my friend, drinking... 

~Bella  

Let's sit and chat for a bit...

I don't know about you, but I've been questioned more often about the situation of France than my own situation, and if you don't know what's going on, well let me tell you a bit... 

Gilet Jaunes, Yellow vests... 
I'll make it short! It's pretty much...
A large group of protesters who are protesting against the government, against the rise of taxes and how unfair everything seems... The protest became violent as the president wasn't moving much and to be honest still doesn't move. 
Obviously, it's a bit more complex but if you are intrigued, here are some websites you can read a lot more about it all...

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/03/672862353/who-are-frances-yellow-vest-protesters-and-what-do-they-want?t=1544559157733

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-

46513189https://www.rte.ie/news/europe/2018/1208/1015963-france-yellow-vests-protests/

You will see photos and some good material! 

To make it clear I am NOT in Paris at the moment and I ain't planning on going there either. So stop asking if I'm okay because I am... This riot is far from simple to explain, I don't fully understand the taxes back in France (they are high), and I certainly don't pay attention to the political side of the country which may be a stupid bloody idea but I ain't interested at all. 
This riot shows how uneducated people can be! How bloody idiotic some people when they are under stress. The violence between civilians, students, the police and military is beyond me. I do not understand how they decided to be okay with this type of behaviour! 
I'm all up for a good revolution but this riot is far from what I can imagine! One would say I'm the peaceful type of person, but on the contrary, don't get me too mad or else little me becomes big me. It's not easy to be heard, especially when it concerns a government, but what they are doing is terrorizing people on the street, getting hurt, pushing too far and expecting nothing in return. 

How many protestors have gotten hurt? Too many to count, too many have been seen on videos. What I don't understand is how can someone expect to be treated as a good person when they are the ones pushing the buttons, pushing others to hurt them! 

I just see this whole blow up in their faces because ignorance is all over. It makes me feel sad, but then again... France is kind of like the USA, there's always something this stupid happening. There's always going to be something happening because being on the front page of social media, the news, the papers is better than being a boring safe country...

I don't expect anyone to understand my point of view, to agree with me, I don't personally care. What I care about is the fact that people are making bigger mistakes, talking about politics in front of kids, and not educate themselves before making more mistakes... 

In other words, if you want more about the Yellow vest, look it up online or talk to someone in Paris, I'm sure you'll hear stories!

~Bella