Why I Ditched My 1K Instagram Account

A few days ago, I decided to start a new Instagram account. If anyone reading this follows my old one, they might be thinking ‘why?!’ I had over 1k followers on there and a feed I quite liked. I’ve worked hard to get it to that point so why on earth would anyone in that position start from 0 again: especially when it is notoriously difficult to grow an audience on Instagram now. If you’re only here for the short answer then all you need to know is that I wanted a fresh start.

Not satisfied by that answer? Then stick around for the long story…

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Moments from the Mountains: Black and White Photography in Wales

The other day I was tagged in a black and white photography challenge by Mary, so thank you so much for that, I really appreciate it! The rules of this tag are supposed to be: post seven black and white photos over seven days, which don’t include people or explanations, and to tag a new blogger everyday.

Now, I really like that idea but I also have some posts planned for that time, so I thought I’d modify the rules slightly a lot, to fit my blogging schedule and also my current Welsh travels. Instead of the rules listed above, I thought I’d share with you all my favourite black and white photos from the first few days of my holiday in Wales, and then tag some bloggers to get involved with any kind of version of this tag that suits their style.

Escaping to Wales: Memories from the Mountains

If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen that I’m currently on holiday in Wales, a place that holds many of my warm, nostalgic memories. I’m spending a week here, specifically in Crickhowell, in a cosy rented cottage surrounded by mountains and the comfort of a small-town demeanour.

I’ve always felt an affinity with Wales, perhaps because my name derives from Welsh, but probably more due to the multitude of muddy, wind-whipped memories that have become woven into the fabric of my youth. I’m very much Southern English, from my accent to my love of the South Downs, coast and London, but I’m pretty sure at least a couple of my bones are built from Brecon mud and that my character’s been whittled into shape by the wild Welsh winds.

How to Make a Christmas Wreath – Blogmas Day 9

Nothing signals the start of Christmas like decorations, and in my opinion, one of the easiest things to make is a wreath for the front door. The amount of effort that goes into making one of these, once you’ve gathered the foliage of course, is minimal, whilst the reward is a pretty impressive festive statement to show off to the rest of the neighbourhood.

The Art of Foraging – Blogmas Day 2

It’s become tradition in my household to create decorations out of foliage for the festive season – specifically a wreath for the door, bundles to adorn the staircase and a garland for the mantelpiece. Being the first weekend in December, my family took the chance, and lack of rain, to take a quick stroll through our local woodland to find some bits and pieces to turn our home into a Christmas grotto.

First Impressions of Vancouver

‘They sell a lot of bagels here’, I remember thinking five days into my three-week stay in Vancouver, Canada. It was the start of my first ever solo trip and my British brain tuned in quickly to oddly specific observations about my new surroundings on a scarily frequent basis; I was over saturated by fresh experiences, like a biscuit being repeatedly dipped into tea, my mind was turning to mush with each new thing I was noticing and having to process.

The temporary nature of glaciers

Seeing a glacier in real life is like seeing behind the scenes of the world; the pure geological strength of the planet displayed in front of you. Glaciers are the remnants of the cold carving knife that shaped the landscape millions of years ago, forging valleys and shaping mountains, and a stark reminder of the forces of our environment and the ways in which it’s changed over time.