(lockdown) life on film 004

The first few months that our entire lives changes. March 2020 to June 2020, the UK's first lockdown. Despite many tears, lots of anxiety and a lot of doom and gloom at daily press conferences, the little things really were the light that kept us all going, and to be quite honest, still do. The 1 hour daily walks, the zoom quizzes, the sunshine, spring bursting into life around us, a doorstep hello to my granny and grandpa, clapping for the NHS and an appreciation of life in the slow lane. 

 

LISTEN. WATCH. READ. DO.

At the time of writing this, we have been in lockdown for nearly two months. That is a sentence I never thought I'd start a blog post with...

Time, since mid-march is a complete blur - days are blending into one and this new temporary normal is weird. It's a funny thought process for me when I think about what I wanted to achieve with this time at home. I had to find that balance between realising that lockdown during a global pandemic is not the time to force myself into new skills and mega productivity but also not wanting to look back at this time with nothing to show for it. As a creative person, I want to create! I'm grateful I'm able to do half my job from home and that has kept me busy during the week and weekends have been a time for hobbies, tv shows, books and embracing life in the slow lane. Who knows where this rollercoaster is heading to next - with very little clarity on what plan is in place - but we certainly won't be back to busy weekends and booked out diaries.

So with that, I thought I'd share the things that have kept me occupied the past few weeks. (These are some faves of mine, lockdown or not!) 

WATCH. 

- TV SHOWS -

Normal People 

Me and the rest of the UK are falling head over heels for this love story. It is perfect. It is happiness, love, calm, chaos, sadness, joy, loss, it's every emotion and somehow you'll feel them all at once. It brought me tonne of joy and also left me with an emotional hangover for about three days.

The OC 

Late to the party, by a good 15 years...! But as a Gossip Girl fan, I knew I'd love The OC. I'm just about to start Season 4 and it's ticking all the old school American teen drama boxes very nicely.

Desperate Housewives

An oldie, but a goodie. First time round, I was probably a little to young to be watching it when it first started, but with a tv in my room and a ninja quick reaction to turning the tv off (who am I kidding, Mums know everything) I watched this the first time round from Season 2. Re-watching it, it is just a good second time round! It is juicy and dark and sassy and just so. damn. good. 

The Bold Type 

When there was a Gossip Girl and 90210 shaped hole in my heart, The Bold Type came along and filled it in the best way possible. This show is SO good, it covers so many important and very real issues (big and small) but in a relatable and non preachy way. They basically feel like your best friends. You can find seasons 1-3 on Amazon Prime, but I need to find somewhere to watch Season 4, any UK links please send my way. 

- Other Faves - 
Fleabag, 90210, Clique, Cold Feet, YOU.

- IG LIVES - 

People are giving the goods online at the moments. It's nice to watch things from people who are in the very same situation to you - whether they're keeping you fit, talking about their faves, answering juicy questions or having a Friday night drink, it's nice to remember we're all going through this together. Here's a few of my fave weekly IG lives. 

Danielle Peazer workouts - most week days 11am

Lily & Anna Live - Saturday 1:30pm

Lindsay & Lizzy 'Things Yer Can't Ask Yer Mum' Live - Monday 5pm

Jim Chapman & Guest 'Speakeasy' - Friday 9pm 

LISTEN.

- MUSIC -
Right at the beginning of lockdown I put together a bunch of my favourite feel good tunes to have a little song and dance to when I needed a pick me up. A few friends are now turning to this as their go to music selection so I thought I'd share it with you guys too. Click here to see my 'quaranTIMES' playlist on Spotify. 

- PODCASTS -
One of my favourite ways to crack down on my screen time is to put a podcast on and put my phone away. Here are some of my faves. (Note - My Dad Wrote a Porno is not one to listen to out loud in the family home...!) 

The High Low 

Things You Can't Ask Yer Mum
Table Manners

My Dad Wrote A Porno

Happy Mum Happy Baby

DO.

- BOOKS - 

I know a lot of people are finding it hard to switch off in the world of a book right now, but if you are looking for a new read, here are some of my favourites.
Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Behind Her Eyes - Sarah Pinborough
Then She Was Gone - Lisa Jewell 

Everything I Know About Love - Dolly Alderton

Ice Cream For Breakfast - Laura Jane Williams

A lastly, just a few things I turn to when I need to completely take my mind off what's happening, stop looking at screens or just get stuck into something creative.

Calligraphy
Macramé
Embroidery
Colouring books
Baking
Finding and cooking new recipes (then eating, obvs)
Tidying, sorting, clearing out cupboards
and, well, lying down and staring into space for a little while, because we all need time to digest reality right now.

That's the lot! I'm sure you've seen a tonne of these by now but there might be something new in here that takes your fancy.

G x

life on film 003

Autumn moments caught on film. Gigs in London with friends, a margarita fuelled evening of Birthday celebrations for my best friend Charlie, an Autumn trip to Sheffield Park, pre-Christmas shoots with my lovely Katie Pix.

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

It's Friday morning, I've got my coffee, sunshine pouring in - as it has all week, so feel good - and I thought I'd write one of my favourite posts. Here's a little list of 10 things that have made me happy this week.

1. As I already mentioned - the sun has been shining all week. I've had an edit heavy week, which means a lot of work from home days. Sunlight beaming into our home is one of the best simple pleasures in life. 

2. My best friend Abi turned up unannounced with coffee and homemade vegan Snickers on Wednesday. She ended up staying the whole evening. What a treat.

3. We've just had our bathroom redone and I am IN LOVE. Is it weird to want to work from your bathroom?

4. 70's style. Give all the floaty sleeves, flares and chunky platform boots. 

5. Good Winter TV - Deadwater Fell, The Stranger, Cold Feet, Sex Education - there's a lot to watch at the moment.

6. Roasted Veggie & Lentil Jumble I had in my Hello Fresh box this week. It was one of the nicest meals I've had in a long time. Tasty, healthy and a good one for when Henry is out and I want something filling and nutritious. 

7. Buying a new little house plant to fill one of my favourite pots that's been waiting for a housemate for a while. I'm so eager to get back out in the garden when Spring rolls back around so for now, new houseplants to look after can fill that void. 

8. An app that's a newbie in my life, it's called 'Habit'. You can track if you're keeping up with habits you're trying to make stick - it's colourful, simple and visually pleasing - I'm tracking reading, drinking more water and waking up before 8am.

9. Speaking of reading - I'm on book 3 of the year and I'm loving getting lost in another world. It's a really nice break from screen-time which is at a big high right now. 

10. Still feeling those new year productivity vibes. I usually find January to be a pretty positive month for me - albeit a bloody long one - and February I start to tick back to my usual headspace. This year that 'lets push forward' feeling seems to be sticking around and you won't see me complaining! 

So there you go, 10 little things that made me happy this week. What's put a smile on your face? 

life on film 002

Another roll of film for you. I'm a little behind uploading them, but I'm going to backdate them as I'd love to share them all on my blog. Shooting on film has become one of my favourite things and the surprise/waiting element of it makes it even greater. Film 002 has some snaps from a sunny Sunday at Columbia Road Flower market, a 'Fleetwood Mac' night in Brighton with the girls, Sam and Tor's beautiful wedding and v. fun work trip to Copenhagen.