Summer 2015 plans

I am home now, back in Ireland, in between the sea and the Cave Hill. I wake in the morning to the sound of my mother and father whispering loudly on the landing, the smell of soda bread and fresh coffee. The house is warm and there is always fresh, clean towels folded neatly in the hot press. The swans are gliding in graceful circles on the pond opposite our house and the linen mill is still standing. I find that being away from a place brings you closer to it and I feel a connection to my own little country that I never had when I was living there. So many times whilst living in Bath, I have longed for someone to take their head phones out while we stand waiting for the bus and tell me how their day was, I've longed for shop keepers to rest their hand on my arm when they're talking to me but English people aren't familiar like the Irish. Many times when I've lain in bed, I've missed the gritty smell of the city and the earnest honesty the Belfast people have. There's no folks like home folks - they're the best of all.

Second year of University is over and another summer stretches out before me - long, dusty, winding. It's my last summer as a student before I'm thrown into the world and forced to become an adult. I hear other's around me talking about how afraid they are at the thought of 'growing up' but I am not afraid, It's recently occurred to me how blessed I am, how privileged I am to be a woman in this day and age. I can do whatever I please, be anyone I want, go where I please and when I please. I always depended on another person but now, more than ever, I'm craving independence.


My parents paid for me to do an online TEFL course and so my summer is going to be devoted to getting the qualification. I long to go away, to work in another part of the world and see how people live. It's occurred to me the importance of travelling and seeing the world for God commanded in Genesis for people to 'spread out and populate the earth.' There is so much beauty, wonder and joy in this world and I believe it's our duty to spend our time wisely. Communication is the basis of life and giving someone else the gift of communication is one of the highest gifts there is. The English language is beautiful and I can't wait to reconstruct it, analyse it, reconstruct it, retain it and then pass it onto another.

This summer is also the time for exploration, self improvement, working and travel. I am working in the Jane Austen Centre, mostly at the weekends and I really do love my job. I'll be moving into my new house and living with five wonderful and inspiring girls. I've been interested in how things grow and so my new house mate Morien and I will be planting some sunflowers and pumpkins and tending our little garden. I''ll be working on my novel, trying to write some articles and reading as much as I can. I also want to learn to drive (more freedom) and travel round England with my new rail pass and a sense of wonder and curiosity. I am also going to Wilderness festival which will probably be a bit of an experience and I'm travelling to Switzerland in September so there is plenty to fill my time.

You have to keep moving, keep looking forward and live with passion and conviction. You must
give the soul as well as the heart.