Quote/Photo of the Day

Haven't posted recently because I've been super busy with work and stuff so here's a small post just to show I'm still alive, hoping this will help get my ass in gear and get some proper posts with original content up here soon!

This quote is one of those that I think everyone can relate to and I know for me it's an important thing to keep in mind. I used to be one of those people who swam oceans for my friends but time and time again I learned that they would never do the same for me. I've stopped letting people walk all over me and take me for granted and its doing me a world of good. I used to put everyone else before myself but I've learned that sometimes you need to be selfish and look after yourself. My loyalty has always been my downfall because people take advantage of it but I'm doing my best to be a better judge of character and to stop letting others use me as a doormat. True friends don't do that and although it's hard to come to terms with this realisation, I know it's 100% for the best and it's just part of growing up.

Posivibes all the way folks xo

Sunset Shadows

Sometimes I find it way too easy to forget that a new, exciting setting isn't always necessary to get a good photo. For example, I got these lovely shots in my back garden this afternoon. I feel a little bit ashamed to admit that I'm often so wrapped up in a search to capture the unusual, the erratic, the awe-inspiring, that I often don't notice the beautiful average around me. My note to self for today is to start noticing things around me in my normal day to day life and appreciate them, whether I do so with lens or memory.

Kenya Trip Update

So as many of you know, I'm heading to Kenya next February to do some volunteering with the Cara Girls Rescue Centre just outside Nairobi. I'm so, so excited for this trip, it's going to be amazing.

Since I made the decision to drop out of college, I was scared of falling into a rut. I was terrified that I was going to end up working in a  supermarket for the rest of my life so I promised myself I would not let that happen. So when the opportunity arose to get involved with Cara Projects, I was really excited. On a completely selfish level, I'm hoping the trip will give me a sense of direction. On a more selfless level, as cheesy as it sounds, I want to at least try make a difference.

The work Cara Projects does is fantastic, it's far more than just an orphanage. In theory, orphanages are great but the problem with them is that when the children turn 18 they're more or less just released back into the same system that they came from, they never get the chance to break free and create their own futures. They just end up back in the same cycle of poverty, completely void of any hope of bettering themselves or making their own way in the world. They end up returning to the same struggles. So the idea behind the Cara Girls Rescue Centre is that they teach the girls as many skills as they can, ranging from knitting/sewing to computer skills. This way, when the girls turn 18 and they have to leave, they have many transferrable skills that they can use to get themselves jobs or go to university, thus breaking the cycle of poverty that they came from.

The centre caters to girls because in disadvantaged areas such as the slums outside Nairobi, it's the young women who are the most vulnerable. Many of the girls living in the centre were abused or raped before arriving and the majority are HIV positive. They need the protection the centre offers as much as they need the shelter/education/food.

The idea of going to somewhere so disadvantaged and being able to see my work actually make a difference in the lives of these girls is phenomenal.

I'm still short of my goal of €3,000 so it's all systems go at the minute to try get together the last of the funds. If you think you can help, if you'd like to take a sponsorship card or if you'd like to get involved then drop me an email; niamhmurray149@yahoo.ie or leave a comment below.

You can keep up to date with the goings on in the centre by liking their Facebook page >here<

And finally, another huge thank you to everyone for their support so far. This little pipe dream is so quickly becoming a reality! Every time I see a cheque I realise this is actually happening and it's getting closer every day! Keep those donations coming folks x

Rain Drops

Got this sweet little picture earlier while I was waiting on a train, rainy weather always seems so depressing but sometimes it makes things that little bit more pretty!

Quote of the Day

'The end of art is peace.'

Seamus Heaney.

Ever since I started studying English, I've always found a connection with poetry. If I had to choose, my favourite poet of all time would have to be Seamus Heaney. When I found out he'd died, I was at Electric Picnic and I went into my tent and cried for a solid half an hour, I was devastated! I think it would have taken me a lot longer to come to the realisation that I love poetry and I'm actually quite good at English had I not been introduced to Heaney's work so early on. I even have a tattoo featuring his last words on my arm, Heaney is my hero. His work will always be very, very special to me and his poems are something I will return to time and time again for the rest of my life.

Quote of the Day

“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.”

Maya Angelou

Photo of the Day

Taking pictures of little plants growing out of walls is my favourite past time. Cute little plants are the best. Look at this persistent little cutie!

#MCM

The one and only Kit Harington, he makes me go all heart eye emoji and gooey every time I see a picture of him. Not the only reason to be a GoT fans but certainly some bonus eye candy ;)

Photo of the Day

Strobe lights plus rapid fire snapping equals what I think is a pretty cool photoset! This is why strobe lights are the best.

God Bless Oscar Wilde - Quote of the Day

'There are two ways of disliking poetry; one way is to dislike it, the other way is to read Pope.'

Oscar Wilde

The undisputed king of sass right there ladies and gents. If you want unapologetic, ruthless burns then all you have to do is read Wilde and worship his unmatched sarcasm.

Steer Clear of the Word Fangirl

Call me any name under the sun just please don't ever call me a fangirl. That word conjures up images of screaming teenage girls who go to ridiculous, invasive lengths to feel closer to the artist/band that they look up to. The kind of fans who become obsessed to a terrifying degree. People who ruin gigs for people by screaming obscenities at the band members or acting completely inappropriate and making everyone around them roll their eyes in irritation. (Just to clarify, it's totally fine to be really into a band but there are lines that shouldn't be crossed, such as invading anyone's privacy or ruining a gig experience for other fans). Fangirl, to me, is just not a nice word.

As someone who has always found solace and I suppose a sort of healing in music, I hate the idea of being associated with something that essentially sullies the industry, the experience.

I understand that not everyone has the same connection with the same music I do, some people don't have a connection with any music at all. I don't particularly like soccer but I wouldn't insult someone who loved soccer just because I don't share the love y'know? Everyone has to have some sort of outlet and if listening to music is mine then why is it that can be twisted into an insult? If I like to spend money on gigs why is that anyones else's concern? It honestly baffles me that people can scoff at something so important to me simply because it makes me happy. If I decide to tattoo my favourite lyric across my forehead, why should anyone else care? (Exception made there for my mother, I'm sure she wouldn't be too impressed with that).

The irony of this entire piece is that some of the only people who ever call me a fangirl are the people closest to me, those who should know better seeing as I've often asked them not to do that. If I have a particularly bad day or episode and it's 3am, I'm crying hysterically and the meds aren't working, I can put in my earphones and it'll eventually pass. I would never dream of calling a friend because I couldn't bear to burden them with my problems. The very people who say I should call them in this sort of situation are the people who throw 'pfft you're such a stupid fangirl!' my way as often as they can. Painfully ironic right? The thing they criticise is the only thing that has kept me from making some very silly, irreparable mistakes in times of crisis.

I know I'm sort of just ranting now but I just really needed to address this because it genuinely annoys me.

Basically my point is; don't insult people for enjoying something that you don't enjoy, or that you don't enjoy to the same degree. As long as it's a safe outlet, let them be for feck sake!

Any points I missed? Any opinions? Leave 'em below or tweet me @EarthToNiamh x

Quote of the Day

“It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”

Hugh Laurie

Mini Trip to Köln

Köln is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited, I honestly didn't want to leave! I wish I'd spent more than 3 days there, I definitely needed more than that to properly explore all the nooks and crannies. 

I stayed in the old part of the city, on the same side of the river as the cathedral. Unfortunately for most of my exploring I didn't have my camera on me because when I thought we were only popping out for something to eat we ended up walking around for a few hours, missed out on some really great opportunities but here's the few photos I did get!

The cathedral is one of the most imposing buildings I've ever seen, pretty much no matter where you are in the city it's visible on the skyline or closer. It's a seriously impressive piece of architecture. 600 years of building really paid off, the entire building is simply immense.

While I was there, I saw the 1975 in the Live Music Venue and it was probably the best set I've ever seen them play, which is saying something considering the amount of times I've seen them at this stage. Quite a nice venue, I must admit, but I have to say Irish venues are a bit friendlier. Whereas I often make friends at gigs at home, the opportunity never really arose to chat to anyone or have a laugh in the Live Music Venue. In saying that, it could've just been the night that was in it though so I wouldn't let it cloud the entire experience.

Any of the decent photos I got are posted below, mostly just the cathedral. Next time I will definitely have my camera on me everywhere I go!

Quote of the Day

'For what it's worth... It's never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you're not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.'

F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Bricking It

I'm flying by myself for the first time on Tuesday and I'm absolutely terrified. Excited but terrified. I'm a relatively intelligent person but public transport and I do not go well together. No matter how many times I check and re-check timetables and stops, I've often wound up getting on the wrong bus/train.

So me plus a very big, busy airport is a situation with so much potential for disaster I can barely wrap my head around it! I'm really gonna have to be on my game and focus and even if I think I'm going the right way I'm gonna stop and ask for directions, just in case.

On a far lighter note though, I'm going to Cologne (Koln?) and I'm so excited. It looks like such a beautiful city and I really want to see the sights and be a tourist while I'm there. (There's a chocolate factory, need I say more?) I'm also going to see the 1975 while I'm there and catch up with a friend who's moved there for a year abroad with university. Providing I manage to navigate the airport and not miss my flight, should be a really good few days!

I'll be bringing my camera and a journal along so hopefully I'll have some material for a few posts when I'm back. I haven't been out of the country in a few years so I'm really, really looking forward to this trip!

Can't wait to share all the details, stories and photos when I get back :)

If anyone has any tips on how to survive airports or places to see/things to do in Cologne, leave em in the comments!

xx

Stroll Down By The Canal.

I'm lucky enough to live near the Grand Canal, which is unfortunately more well known as an underage drinking spot than it is for it's beautiful flora and fauna. I took these pictures a while back when I was out for a walk, these are the little things that caught my eye, delighted I decided to bring my camera along that day! 

Photo of the Day - Emma In Sunlight

Quote of the Day

"I want to taste and glory in each day, and never be afraid to experience pain; and never shut myself up in a numb core of non-feeling, or stop questioning and criticizing life and take the easy way out. To learn and think: to think and live; to live and learn: this always, with new insight, new understanding, and new love."

Sylvia Plath 

(from The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath)

Quote of the Day

'Above all watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.'

Roald Dahl

Quote of the Day

Found this little beauty on Tumblr earlier, somewhere amongst all the bizarre humour and tv references you find bits of wisdom on there!