Daisy Blooming Jane: 20 Blooming 14

Over the past week, I've been meaning to write a post dedicated to my 2014 highlights, but have been under an avalanche of assignments. As a last resort of procrastination, I thought I'd give it a go before it's too late!

AWCHIDS FUR A FIYVAH (COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET) / OCTOPHANT (BRICK LANE)

(AMY'S WEEKEND VISIT TO THE BIG SMOKE)

I began the year dancing to Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon with my friend Rhiannon, before soon collapsing around 4am to watch Tarzan intoxicated. The first few months of 2014, were a blur of university, the unpredictability of living in London and countless hours in Caffè Nero pouring over deadlines.

In between creative writing assignments and juggling freelance projects, I developed my love affair of going to last minute gigs. My favourite had to be Lykke Li's bewitching gig at Village Underground, on the night of my final exam; the energy between her and the crowd was electric! Another honourable mention, was when my friend Amy came to visit me and we queued up on Valentines day for one of Prince's guerilla gigs. Even though our three hours in torrential rain was unsuccessful, it was an experience nonetheless!

IN 2014, I DISCOVERED PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA'S TARANTINO TUESDAYS! / COMPANY MAGAZINE EVENT

During these months, I made a concious effort to go to as many networking events as I could and hand out my business cards as often as smiles! At these events, I learned lots of tips and tricks which I'm thinking of writing a post about soon. My favourite event had to be Beyond Retro's pop up shop with Company magazine in Brick lane, where I managed to chat with editor Victoria White and head stylist Laura Martin. Not only did these events boost my confidence, but they also gave me invaluable contacts which have already landed me surreal jobs!

Around this time, I discovered another hobby: going to the cinema... alone (DUN DUN DUUUN). Trust me, there's something so liberating about going to art houses alone and exploring uncharted depths of your psyche. Just make sure you ask the usher on your way out if your mascara has smudged!

MAMA AT THE SOUTHBANK CENTRE / MARTIN CREED EXHIBITION
REASON #3587 WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CARRY A RED LIPSTICK WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES!

Writing this recap is making me fall in love with London all over again, I've just unearthed these photos from Martin Creed's 'What's the point of it?' exhibition. I went one weekend when my mum was visiting back in April and had the most magical time playing hide and seek in a room full of balloons.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD (GREENWICH PARK) / HOME IS WHERE THE RECORD PLAYER IS (RECORD STORE DAY)

As for university, I feel so blessed to be in the middle of a course I feel genuinely thrilled to be studying. My creative writing degree has pushed me to develop my poetry/screenplays/short stories and to generally nurture my writing voice. (I hate to sound pretentious and corny, but it's true!) After almost two years, Greenwich finally feels like home and I love nothing more than exploring its ins and outs between lecturers. If you're ever in Greenwich, there's three things you must do: Grab lunch at the market (it's famous for a reason), hike to the top of the park to see London from a stunning vantage point and finally, nip into this record shop!

During cheeky trips home to Manchester, I managed to catch my brother Billy run his first marathon and my best friend Caitanya's first art exhibition... I'm still beaming with pride!

GREAT MANCHESTER RUN / OPENING NIGHT (MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY)

ENDLESS PHOTO BOOTH FUN AT FRED ALDOUS

In June a group of friends and I impulsively went to Liverpool and it was one of the best days ever. First things first, we made a beeline to Central Perk were we spent a good hour sunk in the classic orange fringe couch and watched episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. If you ever visit and have a sweet tooth like me, order the Phoebenut! We also visited Tate Liverpool and a Beatles museum, much to the delight of my Beatlemaniac friends.

STUPID BRITISH SNACK FOOD (CENTRAL PERK) / TATE LIVERPOOL

15,000 JELLY BEANS (THE ALBERT DOCK) / JACKSON POLLOCK (TATE LIVERPOOL)

As soon as I arrived back from Liverpool, my brother and I went to a Jurassic 5 gig at Manchester Academy. On Billy's birthday back in May, I treated us to J5 tickets as he used to listen to them incessantly in high school. It was such an incredible night and at the end, the entire band signed our ticket! (Cheers Chali 2na for extra sister brownie points!)

Three days later, my friends and I all dip dyed our hair.

Guess which colour I opted for?

WHEN IS IT THE ACADEMY? RATTLING YOUR ANATOMY / I'M AFRAID I JUST BLUE MYSELF

During my summer break from university, I spent five weeks with my Yiayia in Corfu. I couldn't possibly begin to sum those weeks up, as there's simply too much to mention and around 1500 photos to sieve through. I did, however, write a tiny recap a few months ago! My favourite two photographs of the summer, would have to be these two I took of my Yiayia's house on the day I arrived and moments before I left...

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

I also adore this photo of my two oldest friends, Amalia and Ricardo. We've been friends for over fifteen years and counting!

(Here they are sitting either side of me at my 7th birthday - 2001)

CHILDHOOD FRIEND LOUIS AND I, WAITING FOR THE FULL MOON

La Grotta Paleokastritsa

There was only a three week gap between arriving back from Greece and starting my two week backpacking trip through Eastern Europe. In that time, my mum launched her furniture restoration business, Bliss by Karen x. Here's a blog post I wrote all about the launch. It's so lovely watching my mum flourish and turn a hobby she has had for many moons into a job!

MY MUM AND I, THE NIGHT OF THE LAUNCH

Not long after, my friends and I embarked on our eagerly awaited Interrailing trip! We travelled through Budapest, Warsaw, Berlin and Amsterdam. The twelve hour night train from Hungary to Poland was so vivid and inspiring, that I actually sent the characters from my last assignment (to write a 3000 word short story) on that journey!

GROUP SHOT, WARSAW / SPOT MY BRIGHT YELLOW CHUCKS

CAITANYA & I / ST. STEPHEN'S BASILICA, BUDAPEST

FILLING IN OUR TICKETS, BUDAPEST KELETI RAILWAY STATION

AMY & I, BUDAPEST

Once back in London for my second year of uni, it wasn't long until the essence of the city swept me away. One early Sunday morning in September, my dad and I went on the peoples climate march. The entire day was truly eye opening and it felt great to know that each and everyone one of us were making a difference, together. Hearing Emma Thompson's emotional speech was also pretty spectacular.

During the three hour march, we were behind an animated man with a speakerphone who had countless chants up his sleeve and kept morale flowing. (I couldn't help but chortle though, when he asked the crowd for the Man United score.)

WHAT WE DO TO THE PLANET, WE DO TO OURSELVES / DON'T BE A FOSSIL FOOL

The day of the march was global Peace day and Dazed & Confused ran a competition to win an original Marianne Faithfull drawing.

This piece of art now hangs proudly in my hall...

FOUND A VERY EXCITING PACKAGE WAITING FOR ME AT HOME / OVER THE MOON!

My first term was amazing, I actually can't wait to get back to lectures next week! As my second year actually counts towards my degree, the vibe and general workload has definitely increased, but I find this pushes me more and means I don't feel tempted to coast through an assignment.

The opportunities we're given are also like gold dust. For instance, one of my current assignments is to write the first season of a web series in a group. If we're all proud enough of the finished scripts in May, we'll send them around London or even record episodes ourselves, as some of my team are also studying production... how exciting!

I also still can't get enough of London. Every weekend there's a new screening/exhibition/bar opening... It's true what they say: when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life!

GOOD MORNING GREENWICH, YOU BEAUTY! / REUNITED WITH UNI FRIENDS (THE BOOK CLUB, SHOREDITCH)

Throughout my life (wow that got deep awfully fast), I've been a bit of a nomad. Of the top of my head, I can count nine houses that I've lived in. When my dad moved to England in 2003, he found this idyllic flat overlooking Crystal Palace Park. For ten years, we've watched the world go by through our windows, which has been nothing short of magic. It's like having an enormous painting on your wall that is constantly repainting itself, second by second, season by season... magic!

A ~~KITCHEN~~ ROOM WITH A VIEW

Two months ago my dad decided to move out, after deciding to see what Manchester has to offer him. Once I've earned enough money, I know the first thing I'm going to buy!

I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS OUR FUNKY KUBRICK CARPET!

After weeks of heartache and homesickness, I decided to fly home to Corfu at the end of October. Whilst I was in Greece, I dressed as Arwen to my friend Ben's insane Halloween party and after ten days of bliss, I was ready to face reality again. (Although I'm already dreaming of when I'll return!)

I REMEMBER JUMPING OFF THIS ANCIENT JETTY AFTER SCHOOL WAY BACK WHEN / 2 AM

On my 20th birthday, the webitorial of a photo shoot that I helped assist stylist Laura Martin were published. I'm so proud of the finished shots and seriously can't wait to help out at more shoots in the future!

Just before finishing my first term, I saw Noel Fielding live in Brixton, which I've been wanting to do for YEARS! I also caught Zoe Kravit'z birthday gig at Sebright Arms, which was cosmic!

SISTERS OF A TEXTURAL TRIBE / CENT MAGAZINE

Humans are crazy about Star Wars, I don't get it! To me it's just like watching Eastenders. - The Moon

That leads us to the here and now. I've spent my winter break from university home in Manchester, celebrating Christmas with family and friends and basically eating everything in sight!