Daisy Love

When I see a cluster of daisies adorning the grass around our driveway, I know that summer is on its way.

There is something so beautiful and so familiar in these humble little plants. They evoke so many happy memories of summer: weaving daisy-chains outside the high school in-between games of rounders, picnics in the park with friends as we wait for our buses after work, soaking up the sun in the breezy lush grass of our fields, lazy family strolls along the shore road with our dogs - the list goes on.

And there is further beauty to be found among the speckled spots of yellow and white. Though they are shadowed beneath the bold and bountiful summer produce blooming in our gardens at this time of year and though they are ruthlessly trampled underfoot like the dirt in which they grow, these little "weeds", as we call them, continue to blossom and thrive - embellishing everything with cheerful yellow spots on a soft white blanket.  Daisies do not care where they are planted and they do not care what bigger and better things they are planted with, they simply grow and grow and make everything they touch that little more beautiful.

I think I'd like to be a little more like a daisy.

A Day-Trip to Tarbert

Hello everyone.

Today I thought I'd upload an extra lifestyle post seeing as it's been such a lovely day. Some friends of ours are visiting Arran this week and seeing as we were all off work and it was my two sisters' last day of the school summer holidays, me and my family went away for the day with our friends to Tarbert and Skipness.

After hearing the pitter-patter of rain this morning I didn't get my hopes up for the weather today however, I have been pleasantly surprised. Although there were a few showers here and there, they were only light and short and we all managed to find shelter whenever they passed through.We actually got some warm sunshine aswell.
Our day began on the little ferry from our Island which was a nice smooth journey and then we drove through the incredibly picturesque country-side to arrive at Tarbert. Whilst there, we did some shopping - where I bought a beautiful big journal which I am in love with - and then we strolled down the front to what we thought was a park but turned out to be an outdoor public exercise park...thing. It was lots of fun. Then we all squeezed onto a picnic bench and began to enjoy our lunch and each others company just in time for the clouds to gift us with some soggy sandwiches (a typical Scottish picnic). We then all headed back to our cars and after a 20 pence pee (pretty expensive public restrooms if you ask me) we drove over to Skipness where we had afternoon tea by the castle with the most beautiful view before exploring the castle itself. This was an adventure because the norm, as we all know, when visiting castles and historical buildings is that all the interesting looking places are always blocked off with red rope or signs saying "Restricted Area" however, at this castle there were none of the latter meaning we got to roam free right up to the roof. The view up there was breath-taking. Not quite as breath-taking as when I took a look over the edge of the balcony  to see how high we were; I soon swiftly made my way back to ground level.
After a little more admiring of the view, we then headed home on the ferry and had fish and chips. Bliss.

 After a few weeks of lots of wrk and various stresses within and outwith the family, I think this day trip was a necessity for us and to share it with our friends made it all the more special. I am feeling very much more relaxed and ready and blessed to have such lovely family and friends.
I hope you've had a lovely day too!

Mollie

♥

How do you like to unwind? Where do you like to escape to?

Frolickings With Friends

Hello everyone.

How has your week been? I feel like I'm the only one doing the talking and as patient as you are reading all my weekly ramblings I'd love to hear back from you guys even if you were simply organising your sock drawer. (I wonder if anyone does that).

This week I have been working A LOT which hasn't been too bad as we all know I enjoy it there but it has been tiring. That's why me and my friends decided we would make the most of our evenings and meet up after work to chill and eat cakes and other yummy treats. 

As you can tell from these photos the weather has been fabulous. I love it when the weather is like this because it make Arran look almost like a tropical island rather than an often damp Scottish one.
To make the most of the weather, me and my friend Kirsty decided to meet up on one of our few joint days off yesterday and go to our island's main town for lunch, shopping and sunbathing. 

We began by hitting the charity shop which I love visiting because you never know what you might find. I bought a new bag, scarf and, my favourite purchase of the day, a gorgeous little vintage teapot candle-holder.

After spending no more than £7 on our bargain purchases we did a little more shopping and then went to lunch at ... the cafe where we both work. Trust us to spend our day off work at our place of work. 

Whilst walking there through the blistering heat we bumped into Ross, a boy from our year, who came and joined us. It felt really strange having lunch at work and being served by our friends but it was handy for them as they stole a nacho each time they walked by.

After lunch we decided we would play mini golf and get ice-creams.The only thing was we did both at the same time meaning an impressive juggling act between not letting the ice-cream melt and not falling behind on the golf was performed. Pressure was added when we decided the loser would have to go in the sea which, despite the very hot temperatures, didn't sound too inviting as we were picking up our other friends, Kirsty and Iona, shortly after and I didn't want to leave a trail of wet footprints and laughing strangers through the village .

Luckily for me I didn't lose! Unlucky for Kirsty, she did. She kept up the bet though, much to the surprise of me and Ross, and she waded on in without hesitation.

After Kirsty finally re-emerged it was time for us to pick up other Kirsty and Iona and for Ross to go to work.

With the four of us united there was more swimming in the sea, sunbathing and chocolate-y goodies. What more could a girl ask for?

 Kirsty after she lost mini golf

 Kirsty's trail after being in the sea

The two Kirstys

Kirsty: "Is it coooooold?!"

 Chilling in the sun and watching the bags

 Today was my second day off and after going out in the sun all of yesterday, I decided to have a chill out day at home where I could plan my next week and collect my thoughts. I also decided that I should probably clean my death trap of a room which now looks somewhat presentable after a few hours of work and smells like blueberries thanks to a candle I bought yesturday. Yummy.

All in all it's been a good week and all my working means I'm earning lots of pennies which I'm hoping to save up to buy a good camera so I can properly start making videos. Hooray.
Sometime next week when my brain's alarm clock kicks in I will have my "Mollie's Thoughts" post up . Until then, I hope the weather is as lovely for you as it is here and that you have fun in whatever you get up to. Don't forget to leave me a comment letting me know what you got up to! I'd love to hear.

Mollie

♥

The First Day of Summer

Hello everyone.

So, following my last post which was a little deeper and thoughtful I have decided that once a month I am going to build up a series of posts under the heading “Mollie’s Thoughts”. (Please leave your jokes about how that time scale may reflect how little I do some thinking…)  These posts will address those issues I have strong feelings for and that really matter to me such as, the idea of living for you, not to please others as discussed in my last post. Is that something you would be interested in?

Anyway, back to business. This week began with the first all-day rehearsal on Sunday for the school play I’m in (The Importance of Being Earnest) which is something I look forward to every year when I’m in a school show as it used to give us some hope that school was nearly finished for Summer and also it is a time when everyone in the show can mingle and chill out whilst doing something that we all love – acting in the play. I especially love it this year as I am doing the play with my best friends.

The weather was really beautiful on Sunday as it has been on-and-off this week and so after rehearsals me and my friends decided to go for a swim in the sea for a few hours and it was lovely.

Up until then, on sunny days I have always been working or completing art coursework but Sunday was the first day when I could relax and enjoy one of the hopefully many to come sunny days and so for me it was the first day of Summer.

 Speaking of the school show, it only yesterday dawned on me that it is in fact less than a week away. This time next week we’ll be performing our second show and in true show business manner, we are not feeling very ready. I am now beginning to count my blessings that I have a smaller part! I cannot wait though and would like to encourage any Arran readers to come and see it at the High School on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday night – or even all three if you’re of a particularly theatrical demeanour.

On the topic of not being ready, I am ashamed to say that I have only just finished editing Fiona’s video in the past few days following her Butterfly Tree Tea Party a few weeks ago (You can read about the day HERE). It was not an easy task I can tell you because the software I was using kept crashing and so I had to re-load everything and footage kept refusing to upload etc. but it is now done and delivered and it will be up on my channel tomorrow sometime. 

Me and my parents visited Fiona and Pete (her husband) an hour or so ago and they seemed to really like it so it was all completely worth it! Especially if it can be used to help raise more money for The Butterfly Tree Charity! A copy of the video is even being sent to the charity in Zambia! How amazing is that? Lots of excitement there.

So that’s pretty much everything in my life this week for this life post - well, everything of interest, even though I’m sure you would love to hear about what I had for dinner last night or how many hours I worked this week.

I have lots to look forward to this week - the school show as I mentioned, a much needed sleep-over/catch-up session with my friends, a party on Saturday and next weekend my School Leavers Do! I shall have much to report in my next post. Until then I hope you have lovely sunny weather and have a great week.

Mollie

♥