Quirky Reads: Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

Rachie's Musings on: Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher


Billy and Me very quickly became one of my favourite books that I’ve read.

 It is, as you would expect from the title, a love story about how girl meets boy but to me it’s a lot more special than just that.

When I read Billy and Me, I felt as though Sophie, the ‘Me’ in Billy and Me, was speaking directly to me, I felt as though I wasn’t reading this story, I was sitting in a coffee shop somewhere, listening to my friend tell me all about this great guy she has met and all the adventures they have been on so far.

Sophie appealed to me because I could relate to her. She’s roughly my age or thereabouts, her mum works in a library (so does mine!) she’s unassuming, she dislikes rudeness and gossip, she was unsure of what she wanted to do with her life and found something she was good at by accident and most importantly, she works in a teashop and bakes cake every day – cake is my happy place!

I won’t delve too much into Billy or the story because that would spoil it for anyone that wants to read it themselves – if you are into this kind of genre, you absolutely should read it because its awesome!

A really funny and cute read that left me feeling warm and fuzzy – and hungry for cake.
I think I’ll hunt down some more Giovanna reads, she just released a book called Dream a Little Dream so I think I may make that my next :-)

I originally wrote this post on an older blog I had, before editing it slightly and posting it here, I'm going to start moving all of my old book reviews and maybe scheduling them for like once a week across the summer or something like that so I can have everything in one place :-)

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Things That Make Rachie Smile.

Happy is pretty much my favourite mood to be in. I can at times be a bit of a Pollyanna (if you aren't familiar with Pollyanna, it's a novel by Eleanor H. Porter about an eternally optimistic young girl who moves in with her grumpy aunt when her parents die and spends her days looking for reasons to find the 'happy' in every situation. Oh and Hayley Mills plays her in the 1960 movie and is awesome!).

I like being a bit of a Pollyanna, but sometimes even I can be a bit of a Grumpasaurus.

Since the latter half of last year I've been filling the pages of my London Underground notebook (from Paperchase) with Happy Lists or as I call them - 'Things that Make Rachie Smile'.

I noticed Carrie Hope Fletcher (You can read my musings on her recently published book here - you can also find her blog here) put some on her blog and I thought it was a good idea and might be therapeutic on days when I feel a little less than happy to think about the things that have made me smile recently.

Sometimes the content can vary depending on whether or not I recently bought shoes, if someone recently gave me cake or went to the Disney Store with me - yes I know, 26 and still love Disney - it's allowed! I hope :-) but they are generally full of random simple things.

It does actually make me smile on a day when I'm feeling sorry for myself or a bit grumpy to think of all the things I could be smiling about or feeling lucky for.

Here is my most recent.

Also - the weird shapes all over the page are meant be smiles - I am a really bad drawer! Haha.

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choosing the right words :-)

Choosing the Right Words :-) 


I haven't blogged in a while, mostly because I've had fairly little to talk about and I don't want to ramble on for the sake of rambling!  

Choosing words carefully is pretty important. Choosing the right words can make all the difference between getting your thoughts out correctly and causing offence.  Choosing the right words can make the difference between delivering a joke properly and hurting someone's feeling. Choosing words carefully can also make all the difference in starting a conversation with someone - word it wrong and you may find the conversation goes awry pretty quickly. 

Conversation starters can be tricky things, they often require consideration, but I find us humans have a tendency to speak too quickly in order to fill up dreaded awkward silences.

I've noticed lately that there are occasions when people try to start conversations with me they immediately base their topic on some element of my appearance.  I completely understand why - my hair is postbox red, I wear kitsch/novelty jewellery and my wardrobe choices are often colourful. 

Although unintentional, my appearance lends itself to conversation starters, which whilst I can feel a bit insecure, is something I've gotten used to.

It's fine if it's something like 

"Those earrings are really different, where did you get them?" 

"Can you walk in those shoes?" 

A question or comment that comes out of genuine curiosity and interest is fine, I don't mind people drawing attention to my appearance in that kind of circumstance.

I do mind, however, when a comment or question is designed to make me feel inferior or insecure about myself.  There have been times when I've worn something like a stripey pair of jeans which have invited a comment from someone asking the person I was speaking to if they would wear something that weird, in order to hear them say no and reinforce how weird my outfit choice is. 

On my birthday this year, I got the following comment on my coat, which is green, has a bow on the back and nips in at the waist before flowing back out again - fairly standard coat, I thought.

Commenter: I might have known that was your coat.

Me: Why is that?

Commenter: It's weird, just the style and the colour, no one else would wear it so it had to be yours. 

Comments like that are not usually designed to be horrible or hurtful, but there are times when a poorly worded sentence can be quite hurtful. On that particular day I think what they were trying to say was

 "I thought it was unusual, so through a process of elimination, I figured you were the most likely owner" 

However what it sounded like was

 "This looks weird and no one else would wear it, so it must be yours"

Whilst I am over sensitive, and know it, choosing words carefully is important. 

Also while I am on the subject of appearance - there is more to humans than what they look like.

We are complex, living, breathing, feeling humans, we are more than just an outside shell.

Some people have more dazzling shells than others, some people have more polished shells, some people have rougher shells that have been through a little more upheaval and relocation, some people have shells that are a bit beaten and cracked. 

The shell is not the important thing!!! 

Appearances are great and a great way to express yourself, but you are more than your appearance, don't let other people make you feel like your appearance is all there is. 

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Quirky Reads: All I Know Now, Wonderings And Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully.

Rachie's Musings on: All I Know Now, Wonderings And Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully. 

Before I start with my thoughts and musings, I'm gonna put it out there - I quite like Carrie Hope Fletcher!
Well, I don't know Carrie, but I like the bits of her personality I've seen in her YouTube videos and in her writing. 

Carrie and I share a few similarities, we both have naturally curly hair that is prone to doing it's own thing, we both like musicals, we both like to read and we both have a massive place in our hearts for all things Disney. Unfortunately I am neither a West End actress or a published author so that's possibly where our similarities end :-) 

If you aren't familiar with Carrie, she's pretty cool! Primarily an actress, currently appearing as Eponine in London's West End production of Les Miserables, Carrie is also a singer, a writer, a YouTuber and honorary big sister to her 500,000 plus subscribers
'The Hopefuls' 

Carrie, albeit unintentionally, has become a role model/big sister to so many young people who look to her for advice and help. This is a responsibility she takes very seriously - so much so that she wrote a book offering advice and insight (and some hilarious personal stories & tongue in cheek musings) from her teenage years and some of the life lessons she has learned along the way. 

At 26, I have a few years on Carrie (four to be precise) and I probably have more than a few years on the vast majority of her primarily teenage audience, so I was initially concerned that I sat outside the targeted demographic for the book. 
I needn't have worried.

I don't want to go into too much detail and spoil something for anyone who hasn't read it yet but to give an idea -
Carrie's book 'All I Know Now, Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully' covers many topics and issues such as bullying, body image, consent, how to apologise, hindsight, relationships - to name but a few and there's even a section on navigating the scary world of the internet!

Yes, there are some topics that are especially apt for teenagers but adults can learn many lessons from All I Know Now as well. 
Bullies, insecurities, making mistakes and relationship worries don't disappear into the distance when you stop being a teenager. They can linger on for many years to come and in some cases, forever.
I know a fair few adults, myself included, who could do with mastering the art of apologising :-) 

I found myself nodding along in agreement with Carrie throughout the book when I read things that I too have come to realise over the years and had a few moments when I came across something that never occurred to me before!  Carrie doesn't claim to be a professional in any area of her advice - in fact, there is an entire section of the book that signposts to organisations and helplines in various parts of the world. 

What Carrie has created in All I Know Now is not only a fantastic  manual for navigating your way through the teenage years,  but also a friendly and reassuring voice when you need reminding that it's okay to be human and more importantly - you. 

Whether you are 13 or 30 or 102, I'd recommend having a read, not just for advice but as a reminder that there is always someone you can turn to.

Thumbs up from Rachie! :-) 

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Simple Pass Times

A lot of the things I like doing, like eating out, buying shoes, going to the cinema, going out for the afternoon with friends (which can at times include all of the above) - all cost money, which I unfortunately don't have growing on a tree in the back garden. How cool would that be though? If you could just nip out the back and pick off a note or two when you need some pennies? I digress, moving on. 

I've been making a conscious effort over the past little while to try and enjoy some of the things I can do and see for free, not because I can't afford to spend anything but because I don't always have to be spending money on something extravagant or exciting to have a nice day.  

Most days, I can happily pass the time at home getting stuck into a book, watching films (three of which today were Disney  - whilst reading a book!) chatting nonsense with my parents or letting my imagination run away into the wilderness while I type nonsense stories and poems. There are times however, when it's good for me to remember that there is also a world outside of the security of my bedroom door. 

A few times this year, I've found myself with a little bit of time to spare while waiting for a friend to arrive in town or I've had time to spare before or after an interview and I've popped into the Gallery of Modern Art and had a gander at what the current display is or nipped downstairs to the library and either started a to read a book or made lists of books I'd like to read. 

A few days ago, I had a picnic in a local country park with my boyfriend (who shall in future blog posts, should he be referred to at all, be referred to by his name James or a variation of that as the phrase 'my boyfriend' feels icky lol), as well as enjoying the sunshine and home made tuna mayo & chive pasta, we went on one of the nature walks, taking in the hidden beauty of the forest, skimming stones across the water (Well, James skimmed stones, I watched).  We also spent time appreciating little things like how many dogs were enjoying running around the freshly cut grass (thankfully my hey fever was kept at bay lol)

and how pretty the views of various parts of the city, which seemed to stretch on forever, were. All for the price of a return train ticket, a packet of doritos and a packet of tangfastic!

Yesterday, I visited another local park with my friend Nicole and again we enjoyed taking in the greenery, the pretty fountain and learned more about our city's history in the museum - all we spent was £3.25 for a pretty large Mango Smoothie - bargain!

I sometimes forget that I don't always have to be rolling in money to get out and about, enjoy the fresh air, get some exercise and discover new and exciting things. 

I'm going to keep making a conscious effort to get outside and enjoy the simple things like parks, museums, nice views, lovely weather - that don't cost much to enjoy. 

Today's Shoes. 

Technically, I didn't have these shoes on today, I've mostly had my slippers on today, but I've worn them most of this week as the weather has been gorgeously sunny.

These are my floral print Lora Dora Canvas shoes, they were a birthday present a few weeks ago and they are so comfy! 

I'd never heard of Lora Dora before but I'd definitely wear them again!

Excuse my slightly sunburned feet haha!

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All You Have To Be Is You.

All You Have To Be Is You. 

It's probably not the best idea to blog when riled up about something but I figured I may as well take the passion and try and turn it into something positive. 

There is this notion that a lot of us seem to have, it is communicated to us through popular culture, on the cover of some magazines, on the rails of the occasional shop - and that notion is that we have to aspire to look a certain way in order to be considered attractive, happy, normal or perfect. 

Clothing sizes generally mean nothing and I mean nothing. Each shop differs in terms of what sizes they stock but they also differ in what size will actually fit you.  One shop could give you a completely different size from another and more often than not, clothes are made using minimal material thus resulting in you needing a larger size.

It's frightening the lengths we can go to in order to change ourselves because we don't feel we measure up to what society deems as acceptable. 

So many healthy young girls & guys, women and men end up with self esteem and confidence issues, weight complexes, eating disorders and mental illnesses in the name of conforming to how they feel they ought to look or be. 

Of course people have health concerns etc and not every situation is  as simple as 'you do you' but in situations where you feel you have to change who you are or how you look in order to be accepted or be good enough, pretty enough or normal - you absolutely don't. 

I feel particularly passionate about this but I also succumb to it on a frequent basis, every time I see a pretty celebrity, or a top doesn't fit me or I feel like I'm not good enough.

It's absolutely okay to want to change things about yourself as long as they are changes you want to make for yourself and not because you feel you have to because it's the only way to feel like you are good enough.

 Don't let other people or the world in general feed your insecurity and chip away at your self esteem.

The best way to be the best version of yourself is to be you! That's not to say it's okay to go around being an unbearable or intolerable person in the name of being yourself - there's a difference between being yourself and being as asshat but generally speaking, it's important to embrace who you are and more importantly - celebrate it! :-) 

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Am I a Grown Up? The Ponderings of a Rachie.

Am I a Grown Up? The Ponderings of a Rachie.


I'm not really sure at what point you become a proper 'Grown Up'

There are many milestones that you could attach it to such as,

• Reaching a special age like 18 or 21.
• Learning to cook.
• Clearing out possessions (toys, teddies, clothes).
• Getting your first 'proper' job.
• Passing a driving test or getting a car.
• Moving out of your parent's house and into your own home, getting a mortgage etc.
• Surviving the supermarket on a weekly basis.
• Learning your first important 'Life Lesson' (i.e. experiencing something horrible, heart wrenching or crappy).
• Falling in love.
• Losing a sizeable portion of your wages in tax.

I haven't done everything on that list yet but I don't think that's why I don't feel like a proper grown up yet.

I think I've always had this idea in my head where a grown up has certain traits and is someone who has everything figured out and has all their crap together. 

I'm gradually realising that this notion is mostly twaddle.

Some of the most interesting, mature and successful people I know and consider to be proper grown ups still have many things to figure out and discover - like finding a career path that fits for them, finding a healthy work and life balance, time management, manners, how to say no etc.

I also think for someone who advises a lot of 'you do you' to others, I've become far too worried about the opinion and validation of others, not just in terms of my appearance/personality but also in whether people consider me to be a kid or a grown up.

When I first dyed my hair red a few years ago I overheard someone say 'Oh to be a teenager and get away with such things' - I was 23, and it foolishly bothered me that someone thought I'd have to be a teenager and doing something cool, young, or experimental in order for it to be an okay thing to do. 

In actual fact, it was an elderly lady who had zero concept of what age I was, saw my youthful complexion and merely expressed a thought that just so happened to touch a nerve with me.

There are elements of my personality and image that I feel like people assume I'll eventually grow out of like the bright hair, the quirky earrings, the colourful shoes, the Disney obsession, desire to 'find the sunshine' in situations.  

There are of course times when I need to be sensible and play down the quirky, adhere to dress codes etc.

I may yet give up on the red hair, I might grow out of my Disney obsession, but that doesn't mean I have to grow out of being myself in order to grow up. 

I don't think I properly grasped that before. 

Maybe I am already a grown up but in my own way, rather than what I associate with being a grown up or what I thought being a grown up should be. 

I'll keep pondering it. 

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