A Human of New York

An invasive plume of humid city air swirled into the cab as I yanked open the creaky door, stepping out from my air conditioned cocoon and onto the unfamiliar Brooklyn street. For 30 minutes and 15 miles I had sat against the black leather, twiddling my thumbs in attempt to ignore the blossom of nervous adrenaline orbiting my heart, watching the sunlit city whizz past in a silver blur.

To The Stranger Who

I wrote this on the day it happened, and have been in two minds since whether to let it be seen or not. 

I (Finally) Heart NY

Hey. We haven't spoken in a while, huh? 

It scares me how easy it is to lose track of time.

But there's a reason I haven't written, a reason I am so relieved to reveal is over, at last. 

Little Victories #2 - NYC Diaries

Ever since I started writing, I've come to realise that I collect moments and memories and hoard them like possessions. 

Whether this be in long hand-written essays in notebooks, or through that shirt that I just can't bare to get rid of even though I haven't worn it since, it's somewhat a blessing and a curse to be so passionately involved with documenting every sentiment as a human.

But I can't imagine a world in which I would ever not love every moment of doing it.

Life Aboard - The NYC Diaries

My cabin-mate's hands dance across the ivory keys of the grand piano behind me, as the floor beneath us gently rocks to and fro, a slow and melodic creak of the centuries-old wood accompanying the tune floating from the piano.

As I type this, I'm sat half in the doorway between the Passenger Gallery and the deck, the slow and humming American sun gradually turning my limbs a dusky pink. Above, the reflection of the water dances in silver shimmering spectres across the wood-panelled ceiling. 

A Lesson In Liberty - The NYC Diaries

Sunset from the top deck.

Today is my 4th day living in New York City, and the first time I've felt a pang of something I guess I was waiting to feel. 

As the weather has been unfathomably beautiful since I arrived, I decide to venture out into Brooklyn and explore my new neighborhood. I skip merrily down the cobbled block where multi-coloured flowers line the street outside Chelsea Flower Market, peruse hungrily through the aisles of organic food in Fairways and even wander into a local art gallery which is hosting a free exhibition based around Hurricane Sandy and the effect it had on the community. Just down the street from the gallery, the waterfront is perfectly framed by piers, docks and oil rigs - even an old rusted tram car on display. The sense of a nautical community is palpable in Red Hook, from little anchors on the sides of all the trashcans, to the huge theatrical and boisterous fronts of Brooklyn Crab and The Bait & Tackle Bar. It feels warm, authentic and rich in community. Red Hook, Brooklyn feels like it could easily become home.

7 things I wish I'd Known Growing Up

This article was originally written by me & published on Thought Catalog. (Yay!)

Coming to the end of University, you can't help but feel a little nostalgic. After all, the majority will have been in full-time education for 16 consecutive years, an era which is now finally coming to a complete end. You'll find yourself scrolling through photos from first year, musing at how young you didn't realise you still were, and comparing them with your most recent photos, 3 years and countless memories apart.

Innocent Unplugged... In All Its Analogue Glory